Gingival Coverage of Iatrogenically Denuded Labial Bone Resulting from Thermal Trauma

Damage to periodontal tissue as a result of thermal injury often causes severe gingival recession and denuded alveolar bone. In this case report, two patients undergoing gingival coverage of iatrogenically denuded labial bone associated with the maxillary central incisor and the lateral incisor are presented. The first patient had gingival necrosis and labial alveolar bone exposure on the maxillary left central incisor and was referred from a local dental clinic. The patient had undergone root canal treatment 2 weeks previously. The gingival necrosis was assumed to be caused by a heated plugger. The denuded root surface was immediately covered by a laterally positioned flap over a connective tissue graft obtained from the palate. The gingival margin and overall appearance were symmetrically in harmony with those of the adjacent teeth. Another patient with the same symptoms and dental history was treated using the same procedure. Normal periodontal architecture was successfully reconstructed and maintained. In the cases presented, laterally positioned flap coverage over a subepithelial connective tissue graft was successfully applied to cover thermally injured bone and the root surface.