Minimally Invasive Surgery in Periodontal Regeneration: A Review of the Literature.

New techniques have emerged to achieve periodontal regeneration without the drawbacks associated with conventional flap surgery. Minimally invasive surgery (MIS) is a method of surgical access that minimizes flap reflection and tissue trauma, resulting in maintenance of critical blood supply, stability of the blood clot within the wound site, and less postoperative recession over time. As advancements in materials and techniques are made, MIS in periodontal regeneration continues to evolve. The emergence of a videoscope for use during MIS (VMIS) has improved visual access to surgical sites, facilitating improved defect debridement and root planing. As demonstrated, VMIS has resulted in an actual gain in soft-tissue height up to 3 years postoperatively.