Early Soft-Tissue Healing Following Periodontal Flap Closure Using Isoamyl Cyanoacrylate Tissue Adhesive

Background: Effective soft-tissue healing after periodontal flap surgery is essential for favorable clinical outcomes. Isoamyl cyanoacrylate tissue adhesive may provide an alternative to conventional suturing by reducing tissue trauma and postoperative discomfort.

Objectives: To compare early soft-tissue healing and postoperative discomfort following periodontal flap closure using isoamyl cyanoacrylate versus conventional silk suturing.

Materials and Methods: Thirty patients undergoing periodontal flap surgery were randomly allocated to a test group receiving isoamyl cyanoacrylate (n=15) or a control group receiving conventional 3-0 silk sutures (n=15). Computer-generated randomization and blinded outcome assessment were employed. Soft-tissue healing was evaluated on postoperative days 3, 7, and 14 using the Huang Healing Index. Postoperative discomfort was assessed using a 0–10 Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), and adverse events were recorded. Between-group comparisons were performed using independent-samples t-tests, with statistical significance set at p<0.05.

Results: Mean Healing Index scores in the test and control groups were 3.7±0.5 and 3.1±0.6, respectively, on Day 3 (p=0.02); 4.4±0.4 and 3.9±0.5 on Day 7 (p=0.03); and 4.7±0.3 and 4.2±0.4 on Day 14 (p=0.04). Day-3 VAS scores were significantly lower in the cyanoacrylate group than in the silk-suture group (2.2±0.7 vs. 3.7±0.8; p=0.006). No adverse events occurred in the test group, whereas one mild localized inflammatory reaction was observed in the control group.

Conclusion: Isoamyl cyanoacrylate demonstrated significantly improved early soft-tissue healing and reduced postoperative discomfort compared with conventional silk suturing.