Gingival Retraction Techniques in Periodontal Health Management

Gingival retraction encompasses a suite of methods designed to temporarily displace the soft tissues around a tooth or implant in order to expose the subgingival margins for clinical procedures, most notably the capture of accurate impressions for crowns, bridges and other restorations. These techniques range from traditional mechanical methods, such as the placement of retraction cords impregnated with haemostatic agents, to chemicomechanical systems employing gels or pastes, and to minimally invasive surgical approaches including laser troughing and rotary curettage. Effective retraction preserves periodontal health by minimising tissue trauma, controlling crevicular fluid and bleeding, and maintaining the integrity of the junctional epithelium. In restorative and prosthetic dentistry, accurate margin exposure reduces the risk of marginal discrepancy, microleakage and subsequent periodontal inflammation. Advancements over the past decade have focused on increasing patient comfort, reducing procedural time and enhancing tissue compatibility through novel biomaterials and energy-based devices. Global trends reflect growing adoption of cordless pastes for straightforward application, of laser technologies for precise and blood-free troughing, and of absorbent cord materials tailored to specific haemostatic solutions. By integrating these methods into comprehensive periodontal management, clinicians can achieve both superior restorative outcomes and sustained gingival health.

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Gingival Retraction Techniques in Periodontal Health Management publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in gingival retraction techniques in periodontal health management across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Gingival retraction: The controlled lateral and vertical displacement of gingival tissues to expose subgingival tooth margins.

Gingival sulcus: The natural crevice between the free gingiva and the tooth surface.

Retraction cord: A braided or twisted fibre placed around a tooth, often impregnated with haemostatic agents to control bleeding and fluid.

Retraction paste: A viscous chemicomechanical material injected into the sulcus to displace gingiva without mechanical packing.

Laser troughing: A surgical approach using focused laser energy to ablate a narrow zone of gingival tissue and form a trough for margin exposure.

Haemostatic agent: A chemical substance, such as aluminium chloride or ferric sulfate, used to constrict blood vessels and reduce crevicular fluid during retraction.

References

1. Dentists’ knowledge and preference regarding gingival displacement methods. BMC Oral Health (2023).
2. A Comparative Analysis of Post-Retraction Changes in Gingival Height after Conventional and Surgical Gingival Displacement: Rotary Curettage, Diode and Er:YAG Laser Troughing. Healthcare (2023).
3. Absorptive Capacity of Gingival Retraction Cords in Hemostatic Solutions: An In Vitro Study. Medicina (2024).