Treatment of an Osseous Lesion Associated With a Severe Palato‐Radicular Groove: A Case Report

T his is a case report that describes the management of a severe periodontal defect associated with a palato‐radicular (palato‐gingival) groove affecting the maxillary right lateral incisor of a 50 year‐old male. The patient presented with pain, gingival swelling, and a 10 mm periodontal pocket on the distopalatal aspect of the right maxillary lateral incisor. The defect was initially treated by scaling and root planing. Several days later a flap was elevated, the osseous defect was debrided, and odontoplasty was performed to eliminate the groove. The root surface was treated with citric acid for 3 minutes, the osseous defect was filled with non‐porous hydroxyapatite, a periodontal membrane was placed, and the flap was readapted to the tooth. Postoperative care included systemic (minocycline) and local (Chlorhexidine) antimicrobial therapy. The membrane was removed 6 weeks postoperatively and 14 months postoperatively the gingiva appeared healthy; radiographs suggested substantial resolution of the osseous defect and about 7 mm of probing attachment gain was recorded. Further studies are necessary to determine which of the several modes of therapy used to treat this lesion are necessary for success. J Periodontol 1992; 63:708–712 .