Watts, TLP and Combe EC. Periodontal dressing materials. J Clin Periodontol, 6:3,1979

Review article to discuss the physical, chemical and biological aspects of periodontal dressing.

• Physical effects: hemostasis, protection of the surgical area from trauma, food, contamination, proliferation of granulation tissue and analgesia.
• Isobutyl cyanoacrylate act also instant hemostatic agent. For apical repositioned flaps.
• Therapeutic effects: For tissue destruction and tissue shrinkage. Eugenol has been incorporated in periodontal dressing for antibacterial activity. Also chlorhexidine has been incorporated in periodontal dressing to enhance the healing.
• Setting system: It occurs either by the reaction of zinc oxide with eugenol, organic solvent loss, reaction between a metallic oxide and fatty acids ( Coe-Pack), tissue conditioners, and presence of anions such as OH- in the cyanoacrylate.
• Retention: There is no evidence that putting objects within dressing increases retention.
• Biological and therapeutic compatibility.
• Restorative material compatibility.
• Absence of biological side effects.
• Tissue irritation: Eugenol and non-eugenol materials can be toxic to fibroblasts in vitro. Cyanoacrylates are definitively toxic to tissues. Animal studies are conclusive on the higher toxicity of dressings containing eugenol. Cyanoacrylates with long side chain molecules are lesser irritants than those with short side chain. Cyanoacrylate is toxic if put subepithelially (foreign body reaction).
• Absence of tissue adaptation disturbance.
• Allergies: Eugenol and colophony were demonstrated to sensitize patients.

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