Assessment of tooth mobility using small loads. IV. The effect of periodontal treatment including gingivectomy and flap procedures.

Tooth mobility at loads below 100 p, gingival fluid amounts and bone score heights were studied in five subjects. In all 28 maxillary anterior teeth were investigated during a period of 68 weeks. In order to enlarge upon a previous investigation of tooth mobility following periodontal surgery (Persson 1980), the effects on tooth mobility of gingivectomy and flap procedures were compared. A split-mouth technique was used for the two surgical procedures which were performed during one session. No preoperative differences of the investigated parameters were found. During the first weeks after surgery, an increase of tooth mobility was seen which amounted to +80% maximum (flap side) and +13.1% (gingivectomy side). The final tooth mobility changes were -60% on the flap side and -40% on the gingivectomy side. No significant differences of tooth mobility were found between the two surgical methods. The present findings of tooth mobility following surgery also indicated a considerable time lapse before any major decrease of tooth mobility took place.