Clinical parameters were assessed by a single experienced and calibrated examiner (MS). Calibration was carried out in five non-study stage III or IV periodontitis patients recording full-mouth PPD and CAL twice with an interval of 24 h and after achieving ≥90% of the recordings with an intra-examiner agreement within 1.0 mm in ≥90%.
The primary outcome measurement was the clinical attachment level gains (CAL-gain) measured from the cemento–enamel junction (CEJ) to the base of the pocket, or from the most apical extension of the restoration/crown. These changes were registered before surgery and 12 months postoperatively at six sites in each affected tooth with a periodontal probe rounded off to the nearest millimeter, being a positive change indicative of CAL-gain (UNC probe 15 mm, Hu-Friedy, Chicago, IL, USA). The site with the greatest presurgical CAL value was used for the statistical analysis.
As secondary clinical outcomes, we evaluated the changes in probing pocket depth (PPD-R) and the changes in gingival recession (GR). Like with the CAL-gains, the site with the greatest presurgical CAL value was used for the statistical analysis.
Full mouth plaque scores (FMPS) were the percentage of total surfaces with the presence of plaque [17 (link)] and full mouth bleeding scores (FMBS), assessed dichotomously, expressed as the percentage of pockets that bled after gentle probing [18 (link)].
Intra-surgical measurements included:
The primary outcome measurement was the clinical attachment level gains (CAL-gain) measured from the cemento–enamel junction (CEJ) to the base of the pocket, or from the most apical extension of the restoration/crown. These changes were registered before surgery and 12 months postoperatively at six sites in each affected tooth with a periodontal probe rounded off to the nearest millimeter, being a positive change indicative of CAL-gain (UNC probe 15 mm, Hu-Friedy, Chicago, IL, USA). The site with the greatest presurgical CAL value was used for the statistical analysis.
As secondary clinical outcomes, we evaluated the changes in probing pocket depth (PPD-R) and the changes in gingival recession (GR). Like with the CAL-gains, the site with the greatest presurgical CAL value was used for the statistical analysis.
Full mouth plaque scores (FMPS) were the percentage of total surfaces with the presence of plaque [17 (link)] and full mouth bleeding scores (FMBS), assessed dichotomously, expressed as the percentage of pockets that bled after gentle probing [18 (link)].
Intra-surgical measurements included:
Defect depth as the distance between the bottom of the defect and the most coronal point of the bony walls surrounding the defect;
Defect width as the distance from the most coronal point of the bony walls surrounding the defect to the root surface;
Defects were classified as one-wall, two-wall, and three-wall defects depending on the number of remaining walls.
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