Sapporo Medical Journal

Abstract : Introduction: The clinical characteristics of surgical soft tissue healing in dentistry have received limited attention in the international literature. Postoperative assessments such as periodontal and peri-implant probing, bleeding on probing, and plaque accumulation should be conducted after tissue healing to detect signs and symptoms potentially associated with surgical complications. Aim: This study aimed to evaluate clinical indicators of surgical wound healing—particularly in periodontal and implant dentistry—and to outline appropriate monitoring procedures. Materials and Methods: This comparative clinical study was conducted on 16 dental implants placed in nine patients with severely decayed posterior maxillary teeth. In the study group, socket preservation was performed prior to implant placement, whereas the control group received implants without prior socket preservation. Postoperative assessments included evaluation of gingival health and identification of periodontal disease, if present. Results: No statistically significant differences were observed between the study and control groups in terms of probing depth (mean: 2.31 ± 0.61 mm vs. 2.04 ± 0.58 mm; P > 0.05), bleeding on probing (mean: 0.33 ± 0.48 vs. 0.56 ± 0.51; P > 0.05), or plaque index (mean: 0.78 ± 0.53 vs. 1.15 ± 0.53; P > 0.05). Conclusion: The findings demonstrated no statistically significant differences between the study and control groups regarding probing depth, bleeding on probing, or plaque