Minimally Invasive Surgical Techniques of Single Versus Double-flap for the Treatment of Isolated Intrabony Defects: a Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial

This is a clinical trial, a randomized controlled double-blind parallel-design study with a 12-month follow-up. Participants will be recruited from patients diagnosed with periodontitis (Stage III/IV, Grade A or B) based on inclusion and exclusion criteria at the Postgraduate Periodontics Clinic of the Dental College of Piracicaba in the State University of Campinas (FOP-UNICAMP). The sample size calculation was based on a previous study, resulting in 50 participants, with 25 in each group. Participants will be randomly assigned to two treatment groups: Control Group (double-flap minimally invasive surgery) and Test Group (single-flap minimally invasive surgery).

This study will include clinical, digital, radiographic and patient-related outcome measures parameters. Clinical parameters including plaque index, bleeding on probing, probing depth, gingival recession, clinical attachment level, and early healing index will be measured at baseline, 6 months, and 12 months. Digital parameters, including mean change in papillary volume (mmVP) and change in gingival margin (mGM), will be assessed through intraoral scanning at baseline and 12 months. Radiographic measurements (linear, angular, and subtraction) will be performed before surgery and 12 months after using specialized software. Patient perception of pain and analgesic consumption will be evaluated using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) at various time points post-surgery (1-14 days after surgical intervention).

The clinical protocol involves pre-surgical therapy, surgical therapy, and post-operative care. After recording all the parameters through periodontal evaluation, X-ray acquisition procedures and intraoral scanning, a full-mouth supra and subgingival scaling and root planing will be performed. Afterwards, the surgery will be performed, following the randomization. Patients will receive post-operative analgesics and instructions for oral hygiene modifications. Periodontal maintenance will occur at specific intervals after surgery (1 month after surgery, 2 months after surgery, 4 months after surgery, 7 months after surgery, 10 months after surgery and 12 months after surgery).

For the statistical analysis, descriptive statistics will be used, and normality will be tested. Comparisons will be made using Student's t-test, one-way ANOVA, or non-parametric tests if data do not follow a normal distribution. A significance level of 5% will be used for all analyses.