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 (Delta 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 -11: 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, reaardless 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.