Short-term effect of regular vs mini curettes on periodontal tissue according to phenotype: a randomized control clinical trial.

AIM The aim of this randomized control clinical trial was to compare the soft tissue response to mechanical root instrumentation procedures performed using periodontal curettes with different-sized working parts. MATERIALS AND METHODS Twenty patients affected by Stage 3 Grade B periodontitis - a total of 109 teeth - were treated with either Mini-Five Gracey Curettes (MFC) or Conventional Gracey Curettes (CGC). Measurements were performed by a blinded examiner at baseline and at 6 weeks. Outcome measurements included pocket depth (PD), recession depth (RD), and difference in RD (∆RD). RESULTS The use of MFC significantly reduced soft tissue shrinkage (1.5 ± 1 vs 2.4 ± 1.3; difference: -0.9 mm; P < 0.001). Patients in the MFC (test) group experienced lower gingival recession (GR), especially in both thin (2 ± 0.4 mm vs 3.1 ± 0.5 mm; difference: -1.1; P < 0.001) and medium (1.6 ± 0.5 mm vs 2.6 ± 0.6; difference: -1 mm; P = 0.010) periodontal phenotypes. Severe periodontal pockets (PD ≥ 7 mm) of patients in the MFC group experienced significantly lower soft tissue shrinkage than those in the CGC (control) group, regardless of periodontal phenotype. CONCLUSION The use of MFC resulted in a greater PD reduction and lower rate of GR in the short term. Nonsurgical periodontal treatment performed with CGC led to more soft tissue shrinkage, particularly when performed in patients with a thin periodontal phenotype.