Introduction

The periodontium and the pulp are closely related, having embryonic, anatomic and functional interrelationship. The main anatomic pathways by which the pulp and periodontal ligament communicate are dentinal tubules, lateral and accessory canals and the apical foramen ¹. Besides, palatogingival groove, root perforations and vertical root fractures have been described as communicative pathways. These pathways allow the exchange of bacteria and inflammatory bio-products between the pulp and the periodontal ligament. Thus, a primary periodontal disease can cause a degenerative process in the pulp and, in the same way, an intrapulpal infection can degenerate the periodontium ².

The treatment of endo-periodontal lesion depends on the diagnosis and differentiating between endodontic and periodontal disease ³. Once the correct diagnosis is established and the lesion is classified correctly, treatment is indicated, and it may consist in pure endodontic therapy, pure periodontal therapy, or both ³. On the other hand, the prognosis of these lesions depends on the structures involved. When there is an extensively loss of attachment the prognosis of the tooth is generally poor, but it can be improved with bone grafting and guided tissue regeneration. Recently, the use of blood derivate products, such as leukocyte- platelet- rich fibrin have been use to accelerate and improve the healing process of the periodontal tissue involved in endo-periodontal lesions ⁴.

Leukocyte- platelet- rich fibrin (L-PRF) is an autologous concentrate obtained through the centrifugation of blood of the same patient in which it will be used. In this concentrate most of the platelets, leucocytes, growth factors and cytokines are contained in a strong fibrin matrix. The fibrin matrix influences the biology of the material and the cells trapped inside ⁵, allow the slow liberation of molecules, and therefore has a relatively long-term effect. Moreover, fibrin itself has a strong general influence on the healing processes ⁶, particularly through the promotion of angiogenesis ⁷. Clinical studies have shown that L-PRF used alone (without bone graft) enhances bone regeneration in 3-wall intra bony defects ⁸. However, there are very few studies aimed to evaluate the clinical effect of L-PRF on endo-periodontal lesions.

The main objective of this paper was to report the clinical effectiveness of leukocyte- platelet- rich fibrin in the treatment of a combined endo-periodontal lesion.

Case report

This research was conducted in concordance with Helsinki Declaration and patient signed the informed consent.

Social and dental history

A 52 year’s old male patient was derivate to the Dental Clinic of the Universidad de La Frontera, for the endodontic treatment of the upper left first premolar. Clinically the tooth had a profound abfraction on the vestibular aspect, in close proximity with the root canal. The tooth had no mobility but revealed a deep pocket measuring of 11 mm on the mesial vestibular aspect and 11 mm on the mesial palatine aspect. There were no other periodontal involved teeth in the remaining dentition. The patient was a smoker (6/day) and had no systemic diseases associated.

The three dimensional image analyses were realized by Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT). The tooth in question showed total bone loss in the mesial aspect of the vestibular root and an extensively bone loss of the vestibular aspect of the vestibular root. The palatine root had bone loss involvement in the mesial aspect (Fig. 1 A-B).

Figure 1 A-B: CBCT images of the vestibular and palatal root previous to the surgical treatment. C-D: CBCT images of the vestibular and palatal root 6 month after the surgical treatment, showing no bone gain.  

Periodontal and regenerative treatment

The periodontal surgery was made two week after the endodontic treatment.

The patient was informed about the imperative necessity of stop smoking and 1 hour prior the surgery he took Amoxicilin 875 mg (Optamox®, Pharma Investi, Chile) and Ketoprofen 200 mg (Forenol Lp®, Pharma Investi, Chile) and mouth rinse with chlorhexidine 0.12% (Oralgene®, Maver, Chile).

The surgical area was anesthetized with lidocaine 2%. Sulcular incision around the involved tooth, followed by a releasing vertical incision on the mesial side, was made with 15 scalpel blade (HuFriedy®, Leimen, Germany). A full flap was raise, but minimally extended on the distal side (Fig. 2 B). After recognize the site of interest, a total root planning was made with a 5-6 Gracey curette (HuFriedy®, Leimen, Germany) removing granulation tissue and calculus/detritus (Fig. 2C). The surface was conditioned with a 250 mg of tetracycline (Laboratorio Chile, Chile) diluted in 1 cc of serum by 1 min. The procedure was made with profusely irrigation with saline. To obtain the clot, the blood sample was obtained from an antecubital vein, with a butterfly (No. 23 G, Blood Collection Set + Luer Adapter, Vacuette®, Austria) and plastic shirt (BD Vacutainer®, USA). Blood samples were dispensed into 6 blood containing tubes of 9 mL each (Z Serum Clot Activator: Vacuette®, Kremsmunster, Austria), and were immediately centrifuged (Labo- fuge® 300; Heraus GmbH, Hanau, Germany) at 2,700 rpm for 12 min. The centrifuged blood mass presented with a structured fibrin clot in the middle of the tube, between the acellular plasma on top and red corpuscle layer on the bottom. After centrifugation, the L-PRF clot was removed from the tube using sterile tweezers, separated from the red blood cell (RBC) base using scissors, and placed in a sterile metal cup. Each L-PRF clot started to release its serum (L-PRF-clot exudate) and was ready for compression into the membrane.

Figure 2 A. previous state of the tooth, showing a deep abfraction. B: vestibular aspect, after raising the flap, showing a big bone resorption. C: mesial aspect of roots, it can be observed the furcation involvement. D: Leucocyte - platelet - fibrin concentrate covering the roots. E: Flap suture. 

Once the roots and the furcation were clean, fibrin clots were placed in bone defect, one on top of the other and in opposite directions, and gently placed on the vestibular aspect, covering the root (Fig. 2D). Closure of soft tissue flap was done with polyglactin sutures 5-0 (Vicryl™, Ethicon, New Jersey, USA) (Fig. 2 E). Any complication on surgery was observed. Indication of continue pharmacologic treatment and mouth rinse with chlorexidine 0.12% (Oralgene®, Maver, Chile) for 1 week were indicated. The sutures were removed 15 days after surgery. The patient was scheduled for regular recall at 7, 15, 90 and 180 days.

Three month and 6 months after surgery, the CBCT exams showed no bone regeneration in any aspect of the tooth (Fig.1 C-D). However, periodontal examination shows a significative improvement in the deepness of surcus. The mesial vestibular aspect had a deep pocket of 3 mm and 5 mm on the mesial palatine aspect showing a reduction in deepness of 8 mm and 9 mm, respectively (Fig. 3 B-D).

Figure 3 A-C: Pocket depth prior surgery; 11 mm and 14 mm on the mesial vestibular and mesial palatine aspect. B-D: Pocket depth three month after surgery; 3 mm and 5 mm on the mesial vestibular and palatine aspect. 

Discussion

The actual treatment for teeth with bad prognosis is the extraction and replacement with implants. Even though implants are capable of restore aesthetic and function, the abuse of this approach have led to the loss of teeth that could be successfully treated with a less invasive technique, and still be functionally useful. In this case report, an upper premolar with a severe endo-periodontal lesion was successfully treated with a conservative treatment.

The prognosis of a true combined endoperiodontal lesion is often poor or even hopeless, especially when periodontal lesions, like in this case report, compromises an extensive loss of attachment ². However, with the advent of new regenerative procedures, successful rate of endo-periodontal lesions could be enhanced.

Leukocytes and platelet rich fibrin is a second generation of platelet concentrated in which most of the platelets and leucocytes are contained within a strong fibrin matrix ^9,10. The L-PRF clot contains more than 50% of the leukocytes from the initial blood harvest ¹¹. The fibrin matrix allows the slow liberation of molecules because the concentrate does not dissolve quickly and the fibrin matrix is slowly remodelled, thus obtaining a relatively long-term effect ¹². Moreover, fibrin itself promotes angiogenesis ⁷.

In vivo studies have shown that L-PRF promotes periodontal regeneration and enhances alveolar bone augmentation ¹³. In vitro studies have shown that L-PRF stimulates the proliferation of fibroblasts, periodontal progenitor cells and osteoblasts ^10,13. L-PRF is also reported to promote the differentiation of osteoblasts and protein production ¹⁴. Additionally, a wide range of studies have shown significant benefits from the presence of leukocytes in the L-PRF. Leukocytes have a role in cleaning up the surgical site, regulating the expression of inflammatory cytokines and inflammatory mediators ^5,10, they have an anti-infectious impact ^5,15-17, and also secrete a battery of growth factors ⁵, one of which is vascular endothelial growth factor which stimulates angiogenesis. All these biological characteristic of the L-PRF could enhance the probability of clinical success of teeth with severe bone loss and periodontal attachment.

In this case report was observed a gain in the clinical attachment level and reduction in probing depth. However we could not observe any bone gain at any aspect of the tooth. Karunakar et al. ¹⁸, observed adequate radiographic bone fill in two teeth with endoperiodontal lesions, treated with L-PRF and same results were observed by Singh ¹⁹ with the use of platelet-rich plasma (PRP). However, it is important to notice that these cases previously mentioned, did not used the platelet concentrate alone but with the adjacent of a bone graft material, that could be responsible for the bone gain.

It is questionable if the reduction in probing deep obtained in this study would be different if there were no use of a platelet concentrate. In despite of the potential positives effects of the L-PRF very few studies had tempted to prove its clinical and radiographic effectiveness in the treatment of endoperiodontal lesions ^4,18,20,21. In the literature we do not found clinical trials tending to solve the question whether the L-PRF enhance the probability of success of the periodontal treatment, in combined endo-periodontal lesions. Therefore it is important to conduct well design studies that solve this matter.