Periodontal microsurgery: report of 16 cases consecutively treated by the free rotated papilla autograft technique combined with the coronally advanced flap

The coronally advanced flap combined with a free connective tissue graft is a predictable method for achieving root coverage in buccal gingival recession. Nevertheless, this procedure conventionally requires involvement of a second surgical site; the latter is avoided by the proposed technique. Sixteen isolated gingival recessions (2.5 to 4.0 mm deep) were surgically treated with a coronally advanced flap associated with a connective tissue graft harvested from one adjacent papilla whose dimensions matched those of the exposed root area. Procedures were performed with the aid of a surgical microscope. Recession depth, probing depth, periodontal attachment level, and keratinized tissue width were recorded at baseline and 12 months after surgery. Mean recession moved from 3.38 +/- 0.72 mm at baseline to 0.13 +/- 0.29 mm at 12 months, a gain of 97.03%. In 13 of the 16 cases 12 months after surgery, the gingival margin was located at the CEJ or coronal to it, while in two cases the residual recession was less than 1.0 mm and in another case it was 1.0 mm. Mean periodontal attachment level was 4.72 +/- 1.00 mm at baseline and 1.03 +/- 0.59 mm at follow-up. Mean keratinized tissue increased from 1.25 +/- 0.75 mm to 3.47 +/- 0.87 mm. All differences between 12 months and baseline were statistically significant. No pockets were present at baseline, and this situation remained stable during the observation period. All 16 isolated recessions treated showed an excellent gain in root coverage without requiring a second surgical site and thus reducing patient morbidity.     

Root coverage: comparison of coronally positioned flap with and without titanium-reinforced barrier membrane

BACKGROUND: Various surgical procedures have been proposed as effective treatment methods for recession defects. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical outcome of root coverage comparing the coronally positioned flap (CPF) with and without guided tissue regeneration (GTR) using a titanium-reinforced expanded polytetrafluoroethylene barrier in paired gingival recession defects. METHODS: Procedures were performed in 10 patients having bilateral buccal recession defects > or = 2.0 mm on maxillary canines and first premolars. Mucoperiosteal flaps were raised and root surfaces were scaled, planed, and conditioned. Randomly assigned sites received either GTR + CPF or CPF treatment. Clinical parameters measured at baseline and at 6 months after the procedure included gingival recession depth (GRD), clinical attachment level (CAL), probing depth (PD), keratinized gingival width (KGW), and alveolar crest level (ACL). RESULTS: GRD decreased from 3.4 +/- 0.6 mm to 1.9 +/- 1.2 mm with GTR (45% root coverage) and from 3.3 +/- 0.4 mm to 1.3 +/- 0.7 mm with CPF (60% root coverage). The difference in GRD decrease between procedures was significant. CAL, KGW, and PD differences between procedures were not significant. ACL mean gain was significant (1.0 +/- 0.6 mm in the GTR group and 0.2 +/- 0.3 mm in the CPF group; P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Both GTR and CPF procedures result in root coverage. The amount of root coverage obtained with CPF was greater than that observed with GTR, although GTR resulted in significantly greater ACL gain.     

脱细胞真皮基质在牙龈退缩治疗中的应用评价

目的评价脱细胞真皮基质（acellular dermal matrix,ADM）代替上皮下结缔组织瓣在Ⅰ类牙龈退缩治疗中的应用效果。方法在犬尖牙上制造Ⅰ类牙龈退缩模型,实验组用ADM加冠向复位瓣治疗,对照组用单纯冠向复位瓣治疗。观察和测量比较基线和术后8周时牙龈退缩高度、临床附着水平、角化龈的宽度和厚度等。结果术后8周,实验组治疗牙龈退缩的根面覆盖率为52.53%,明显高于对照组的15.89%,差异有高度显著性（P〈0.01）;实验组的角化龈宽度和高度比基线时分别增加1.06mm和0.18mm,而对照组则比基线时分别减少1.19mm和0.27mm,两者比较,差异也有高度显著性（P〈0.01）。结论 ADM代替上皮下结缔组织瓣治疗Ⅰ类牙龈退缩,能比单纯冠向复位瓣获得更高的根面覆盖率,并显著增加角化龈的宽度和厚度。     

Treatment of gingival recession in two surgical stages: Free gingival graft and connective tissue grafting

This report describes a clinical case of severe Miller Class II gingival recession treated by two stages of surgery that combined a free gingival graft and connective tissue grafting. First, a free gingival graft (FGG) was performed to obtain an adequate keratinized tissue level. Three months later, a connective tissue graft (CTG) was performed to obtain root coverage. The results indicated that the FGG allows for a gain in the keratinized tissue level and the CTG allows for root coverage with decreased recession level after 16 months. Therefore, for this type of specific gingival recession, the combination of FGG and CTG can be used.     

Root coverage and pocket reduction as combined surgical procedures.

BACKGROUND: One of the main objectives of periodontal reconstructive surgery is the coverage of exposed roots due to gingival recession. A large variety of mucogingival grafting procedures are available that give highly predictable and esthetically acceptable results when treating intact root surfaces. However, these procedures call for a second surgery site in the palate. The present study examines a series of cases in which connective tissue, obtained from the tuberosity during pocket reduction procedures in the posterior region of the maxilla, was used for root coverage. METHODS: Forty-four teeth from 25 patients with gingival recession of 3.30 +/- 0.14 mm (mean +/- SEM) were treated with subepithelial connective tissue grafts using connective tissue obtained from the tuberosity area during pocket reduction procedures in the posterior region of the maxilla. RESULTS: The mean root coverage recession after treatment was 0.16 +/- 0.06 mm, with effectiveness of coverage at 95.0% +/- 1.84 and a predictability of 84.1%. Periodontal probing depth reduction at the donor site was 4.08 +/- 0.24 mm. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that the subepithelial connective tissue graft obtained from the tuberosity area during pocket reduction procedures in the posterior region of the maxilla provides a very predictable and esthetic root coverage without the need for a second surgical site.     

Full-thickness flap/subepithelial connective tissue grafting with intramarrow penetrations: three case reports of lingual root coverage

Three case reports are presented that demonstrate the use of full-thickness flap/subepithelial connective tissue grafting for root coverage on the lingual surfaces of the mandibular anterior teeth. This is accomplished using an envelope full-thickness flap technique with intramarrow penetrations at the recipient site. Miller Class I, II, and III gingival recession defects and gingival perforation defects were treated. Complete root coverage was achieved in two Miller Class I gingival recession defects, in one Miller Class II gingival recession defect, and in two gingival perforation defects in areas that exhibited no radiographic evidence of bone loss. Partial root coverage was achieved in two Miller Class III gingival recession defects in an area that exhibited radiographic evidence of bone loss. Although the majority of the exposed root surface was covered in these two Miller Class III defects, about 1 mm of root surface remained exposed, which seemed to closely correspond to the amount of bone loss that was noted radiographically. A grafting technique has been presented that can be used to restore the functional properties of the lingual gingiva of the mandibular anterior teeth by repairing gingival defects and re-establishing the continuity and integrity of the zone of keratinized gingiva. Our clinical impression is that this has made it easier for the three patients presented in this report to maintain the lingual surfaces of the mandibular anterior teeth with routine oral hygiene measures.     

Root coverage using the coronally positioned flap with or without a subepithelial connective tissue graft

BACKGROUND: Various surgical techniques have been proposed for treating gingival recession. This randomized clinical trial compared the coronally positioned flap (CPF) alone or in conjunction with a subepithelial connective tissue graft (SCTG) in the treatment of gingival recession. METHODS: Eleven non-smoking subjects with bilateral and comparable Miller Class I recession defects were selected. The defects, at least 3.0 mm deep, were randomly assigned to the test (CPF + SCTG) or control group (CPF alone). Recession depth (RD), probing depth (PD), clinical attachment level (CAL), width of keratinized tissue (KT), and gingival/mucosal thickness (GT) were assessed at baseline and 6 months postoperatively. RESULTS: Recession depth was significantly reduced 6 months postoperatively (P<0.05) for both groups. Mean root coverage was 75% and 69% in the test and control groups, respectively. There were no significant differences between the two groups in RD, PD, or CAL, either at baseline or at 6 months postoperatively. However, at 6 months postoperatively, the test group showed a statistically significant increase in KT and GT compared to the control group (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate that both surgical approaches are effective in addressing root coverage. However, when an increase in gingival dimensions (keratinized tissue width, gingival/mucosal thickness) is a desired outcome, then the combined technique (CPF + SCTG) should be used.     

Histologic observation of soft tissue acquired from maxillary tuberosity area for root coverage

BACKGROUND: The palatal area has been the major donor site for obtaining connective tissue for root-coverage procedures. This study evaluated the long-term outcome of using a gingival cuff from the maxillary tuberosity area as a donor site for root coverage procedures. METHODS: Case 1: A 26-year-old female patient complaining of tooth hypersensitivity and gingival recession on the maxillary left canine was treated with root coverage using a pouch technique. A connective tissue graft was obtained from the gingival cuff of the maxillary tuberosity area. An additional gingivectomy was performed at 3 months after surgery to trim the bulk of the grafted tissue. Regular recall check-up visits, including oral hygiene maintenance, occurred every 6 months. The patient was followed for 35 months after surgery. Case 2: A 24-year-old female patient with a chief complaint of tooth hypersensitivity and multiple areas of gingival recession in the maxilla was treated with a pouch and semilunar technique. The patient was treated with the same surgical protocol as in case 1. The patient was followed for 31 months after surgery. RESULTS: Full coverage was achieved in both cases with uneventful healing. The gingival biotype changed from a thin scalloped biotype to a thick flat biotype, and the overall color match was successful. The histologic findings of case 1 revealed good adaptation of the grafted tissue with continuous epithelial lining into the recipient site. The grafted tissue remained consistently stable with no change in the probing depths. CONCLUSION: The long-term evaluation of root coverage with a gingival cuff of the maxillary tuberosity area showed it to be an easier method than obtaining the graft from palatal masticatory mucosa, with a highly predictable prognosis.     

The clinical effect of acellular dermal matrix on gingival thickness and root coverage compared to coronally positioned flap alone

BACKGROUND: The primary aim of this randomized, controlled, blinded, clinical investigation was to compare the coronally positioned flap (CPF) plus an acellular dermal matrix (ADM) allograft to CPF alone to determine their effect on gingival thickness and percent root coverage. METHODS: Twenty-four subjects with one Miller Class I or II buccal recession defect of > or = 3 mm were treated with a CPF plus ADM or a CPF alone. Multiple additional recession sites were treated with the same flap procedure, and all sites were studied for 6 months. Tissue thickness was measured at the sulcus base and at the mucogingival junction of all teeth, with an SDM ultrasonic gingival thickness meter. RESULTS: For the ADM sites, mean initial recession of 3.46 mm was reduced to 0.04 mm for defect coverage of 3.42 mm or 99% (P < 0.05). For the CPF group, mean initial recession of 3.27 mm was reduced to 1.08 mm for defect coverage of 2.19 mm or 67% (P < 0.05). The difference between ADM and CPF groups was statistically significant (P < 0.05). Marginal soft-tissue thickness was increased by 0.40 mm (P < 0.05) for the ADM group, whereas the CPF group remained essentially unchanged. Keratinized tissue was increased for the ADM group by 0.81 mm (P < 0.05), whereas the CPF group increased by 0.33 mm (P > 0.05). No additional root coverage was gained due to creeping attachment between 2 and 6 months for either group. CONCLUSIONS: Treatment with a CPF plus an ADM allograft significantly increased gingival thickness when compared with a CPF alone. Recession defect coverage was significantly improved with the use of ADM.     

Coronally positioned flap procedures with or without a bioabsorbable membrane in the treatment of human gingival recession

BACKGROUND: A variety of surgical techniques have been used to cover recession type defects. New data have indicated that the outcome of coronally positioned flap procedures may be augmented by supporting the flap with a membrane. METHODS: The present study aimed at comparing the clinical outcome following treatment of localized gingival recessions by a coronally positioned flap procedure alone, or combined with a bioabsorbable membrane. Twenty patients with buccal bilateral Miller Class I or Class II gingival recessions in cuspids or premolars participated in the study. The split-mouth design, randomized selection of site treatment, and blind evaluation provided 20 sites in a membrane group and 20 sites in a non-membrane group for examination at baseline, and at 3 months and 6 months postoperatively. Clinical variables included the apical extent of the gingival recession, the width of the recession defect measured at the cemento-enamel junction (CEJ), and the width of keratinized tissue at the recession site as well as probing depth and attachment level. RESULTS: Both treatments resulted in a significant gain (P <0.0001) of root coverage, amounting to an average of 2.3 mm in the membrane group and 2.5 mm in the non-membrane group at the 6-month evaluation. There was no significant difference between the treatments. Similarly, a significant gain of clinical attachment level was seen in the membrane (1.3 mm; P <0.001) as well as in the non-membrane (1.5 mm; P <0.0001) group, but without a significant difference between the groups. The reduction of the recession width from baseline to 6 months was significantly greater (P <0.01) for the non-membrane (2.3 mm) than for the membrane (1.4 mm) group. Probing depth changes were small and not significant for either of the treatments. When patients were grouped as smokers (8) and non-smokers (12), no significant differences were revealed for any of the response variables. Overall, among the 20 membrane sites, one showed no change while the remaining 19 gained root coverage at the 6-month examination. Five sites obtained coverage to the CEJ. Among the non-membrane sites, all gained root coverage at 6 months and 10 sites showed complete coverage to the CEJ. CONCLUSIONS: The coronally positioned flap operation offers a predictable, simple, and convenient approach as a root coverage procedure in Miller Class I and Class II recession defects. Combining this technique with the placement of a bioabsorbable membrane does not seem to improve the results following surgical treatment of such defects.     

A technique to identify and reconstruct the cementoenamel junction level using combined periodontal and restorative treatment of gingival recession. A prospective clinical study

Gingival recession is often associated with abrasion in the cervical area with an unidentifiable cementoenamel junction (CEJ). This condition complicates the diagnosis and treatment of gingival recession. The aim of this study was to propose a technique to identify the CEJ level for planning periodontal and restorative treatment of the recession. The CEJ of a contralateral homologous tooth or adjacent teeth was used to replicate the lost CEJ at the treated tooth. Reconstruction of the CEJ using composite resin and a coronally advanced flap, with or without a connective tissue graft, was performed for 25 recessions in 12 patients. After 2 years, 20 defects (80%) showed complete root coverage with a significant recession reduction (2.4 mm, P < .0001).     

A patient-centered clinical evaluation of acellular dermal matrix graft in the treatment of gingival recession defects

BACKGROUND: The present randomized controlled trial was conducted to evaluate acellular dermal matrix (ADM) graft in terms of patient satisfaction and its effectiveness and efficiency in the treatment of gingival recession. METHODS: Fourteen patients (seven males and seven females) with Miller Class I and II recessions > or =3 mm participated in this 6-month clinical study. They were assigned randomly to the ADM group (ADM graft and coronally positioned flap [CPF]) or the CPF group (CPF alone). Results were evaluated based on parameters measuring patient satisfaction and clinical outcomes associated with the two treatment procedures. Significance was set at P <0.05. RESULTS: The mean recession was 4.0 +/- 1.0 mm and 3.7 +/- 0.7 mm for the ADM and CPF groups, respectively. For the ADM group, the defect coverage was 3.85 +/- 0.89 mm or 97.14% compared to the CPF group, in which the defect coverage was 2.85 +/- 0.89 mm or 77.42%. The difference between the two groups was statistically significant (P <0.05). There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups in the remaining clinical parameters and overall patient satisfaction except in criteria related to patient comfort and cost effectiveness, in which CPF alone produced significantly better results (P <0.03). CONCLUSIONS: ADM graft is significantly superior with regard to effectiveness and efficiency in the treatment of gingival recession than CPF alone. CPF emerges as a better option than ADM graft in terms of cost effectiveness and patient comfort.     

Coronally positioned flap for root coverage in smokers and non-smokers: stability of outcomes between 6 months and 2 years

BACKGROUND: Smoking adversely affects the short-term outcomes of coronally positioned flap (CPF) root coverage procedures, but the long-term stability of this procedure in smokers has not been studied. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of smoking on the long-term outcomes of CPF in recession treatment. METHODS: CPF was used to treat a Miller Class I defect in a maxillary canine or premolar in 10 current smokers (> or =10 cigarettes daily for > or =5 years) and 10 non-smokers (never smokers). At baseline and 6, 12, and 24 months, clinical parameters, including probing depth (PD), clinical attachment level (CAL), recession depth (RD), and width of keratinized tissue (KT), were determined. RESULTS: Intragroup analysis showed that CPF failed to maintain the gingival margin at the initially achieved position. RD significantly increased in smokers (from 0.84 +/- 0.49 to 1.28 +/- 0.58 mm) and in non-smokers (from 0.22 +/- 0.29 to 0.50 +/- 0.41 mm) between 6 and 24 months. Further analysis showed that 50% of smokers and 10% of non-smokers lost between 0.5 and 1.0 mm of root coverage in the same period. Intergroup analysis showed that smokers had significantly greater residual recession (P = 0.001) at 24 months. Both smokers and non-smokers lost CAL and experienced decreases in KT. CONCLUSIONS: The long-term stability of CPF outcomes is less than desirable, particularly in smokers. Two years after a CPF procedure, smokers have significantly greater residual recession compared to non-smokers both statistically and clinically.     

Coronally positioned flap with or without acellular dermal matrix graft in the treatment of Class I gingival recessions: a randomized controlled clinical study

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to clinically evaluate the treatment of Class I gingival recessions by coronally positioned flap with or without acellular dermal matrix allograft (ADM). METHODS: Thirteen patients with comparable bilateral Miller Class I gingival recessions (> or = 3.0 mm) were selected. The defects were randomly assigned to one of the treatments: coronally positioned flap and acellular dermal matrix (ADM group) or coronally positioned flap alone (CPF group). The clinical parameters included: probing depth (PD), clinical attachment level (CAL), recession height (RH), recession width (RW), height of keratinized tissue (HKT), thickness of keratinized tissue (TKT), plaque index (PI), and gingival index (GI). The measurements were taken before the surgeries and after 6 months. RESULTS: The mean baseline recession was 3.4 mm and 3.5 mm for ADM group and CPF group, respectively. After 6 months, both treatments resulted in significant root coverage (P < 0.01), reaching an average of 2.6 mm (76%) in the ADM group and 2.5 mm (71%) in the CPF group. The difference in recession reduction between treatments was not statistically significant. There were no statistically significant differences between the treatments in PD, CAL, RH, RW, and HKT. However, the mean TKT gain was 0.7 mm for the ADM group and 0.2 mm for the CPF group (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: It can be concluded that both techniques could provide significant root coverage in Class I gingival recessions; however, a greater keratinized tissue thickness can be expected with ADM.     

Coronally positioned flap with or without acellular dermal matrix graft in gingival recessions: a histometric study

PURPOSE: To evaluate, histometrically, the healing of gingival recession treated by coronally positioned flaps (CPF) with or without acellular dermal matrix (ADM) as a subepithelial graft. METHODS: Gingival recessions were created on the upper cuspids of six dogs and were randomly assigned to: CPF+ADM (ADM group) or CPF alone (CPF group). After 4 months, the dogs were sacrificed, and the histometric measurements were performed. RESULTS: The epithelial length was 2.28 + 0.92 mm and 2.10 + 0.46 mm for the ADM and CPF groups, respectively (P=0.74). The connective tissue adaptation was 0.05 + 0.08 mm for the ADM group and 0.06 + 0.08 mm for the CPF group (P=0.36). The new cementum was 2.35 + 1.55 mm and 2.90 + 0.96 mm in the ADM and CPF groups, respectively (P=0.53). The new bone was 0.60 + 1.36 mm for the ADM group and 0.35 + 0.82 mm for the CPF group (P=0.53). The gingival recession was -0.88 + 1.33 mm in the ADM group and -0.21 + 0.22 mm in the CPF group (P=0.21). The gingival thickness was 1.63 + 0.28 mm in the ADM group and 1.16 + 0.20 mm in the CPF group (P=0.002).     

Increased gingival dimensions. A significant factor for successful outcome of root coverage procedures?

Abstract The aim of this study was to evaluate whether an increased thickness of the gingiva through the use of a free connective tissue graft, in conjunction with a coronally advanced flap procedure, may positively influence the treatment outcome with respect to (i) root coverage and (ii) long-term stability of the position of the soft tissue margin following treatment of recession type defects. 67 consecutive patients having a total of 103 buccally located recession type defects of at least 3 mm were included in the study. After an initial phase of prophylaxis including instructions in a tooth brushing technique giving minimal apically directed forces to the gingival margin, the recession sites were surgically covered with a coronally advanced flap alone (control sites), or coronally advanced flap combined with a free connective tissue graft taken from the palate (test sites). Clinical examinations, including assessments of oral hygiene, gingival conditions, recession depth, gingival height, probing pocket depth and probing attachment loss, were performed before and 6. 12 and 24 months after surgical treatment. The mean initial recession depth for both treatment groups was about 4.0 mm (SD 1.0) with a gingival height apical to the recession of 1.0 mm (0.5). At the re-examination performed 6 months after surgical treatment, the mean recession depth had decreased to 0.2 mm in both the test and control groups. Complete root coverage was observed at 72% of the test sites and 74% of the control teeth. At teeth treated with the combined surgical procedure, the mean gain in probing attachment amounted to 3.7 mm and the mean gingival height had increased to 3.5 mm (0.6). The corresponding figures for control teeth were 3.6 mm and 1.5 mm (0.5), respectively. At the 24-month follow-up examination, the mean root coverage amounted to 98.9% (test) and 97.1% (control). 88% of the teeth in the test group showed complete root coverage compared to 80% for teeth in the control group. It was concluded that the 2 surgical procedures resulted in similar degree of root coverage and that changes of tooth brushing habits may be of greater importance than increased gingival thickness for long-term maintenance of the surgically established position of the soft tissue margin.     

Comparison of 2 techniques of subepithelial connective tissue graft in the treatment of gingival recessions.

BACKGROUND: The clinical outcome of connective tissue grafts in the treatment of gingival recessions has been documented in numerous studies. However, no attempt has been made to correlate the postoperative mucogingival changes with the surgical parameters. The present retrospective clinical study was undertaken to 1) evaluate root coverage and mucogingival changes 1 to 1.5 years following treatment of Miller's Class I and II recession defects using 2 variants of the subepithelial connective tissue graft (SCTG) procedure, and 2) assess the effect of the surgical parameters on the postoperative gingival width. METHODS: Thirty-one recessions in 10 patients treated with the envelope technique (E) and 31 recessions in 11 patients treated with coronally positioned flap combined with connective tissue graft (CP) were retrospectively analyzed to evaluate: 1) percentage of root coverage obtained with the 2 procedures and variations in width of keratinized tissue (KT) 1 to 1.5 years postsurgery, and 2) the effect of the surgical parameters on the postoperative gingival width. RESULTS: Results showed a mean root coverage percentage of 89.6 +/- 15% for the E group and 94.7 +/- 11.4% for the CP group; the difference between groups was statistically insignificant (P = 0.1388). Mean KT increased significantly from 1.4 +/- 1.1 mm presurgery to 4.5 +/- 1.1 mm postsurgery for the E group while a minor increase in KT was observed in the CP group (2 +/- 1.5 mm presurgery versus 2.7 +/- 1.6 mm postsurgery). For both treatment groups, the mean postsurgical width of keratinized tissue (POSTKT) was found to be mathematically correlated with the mean presurgical width of keratinized tissue (PREKT) and the corono-apical height of the graft that remained exposed (GE) coronal to the flap margin in the recipient site. CONCLUSIONS: Treatment of human gingival recession defects by the 2 variants of SCTG resulted in significant recession reduction. When SCTG is grafted beneath alveolar mucosa using the combined technique (CP), transformation of the mucosa into keratinized tissue does not seem to occur, at least within 1 to 1.5 years postsurgery. The treatment outcome in terms of keratinized tissue width seems to be correlated with the presurgical gingival dimensions and the height of the graft that remains exposed at the end of the surgical procedure.     

Non-surgical periodontal therapy of shallow gingival recession defects: evaluation of the restorative capacity of marginal gingiva after 12 months

BACKGROUND: There is a large amount of data on surgical root coverage procedures for the treatment of gingival recessions but no controlled clinical trials on the behavior of marginal gingiva following non-surgical therapy. The aim of our study was to compare in terms of root coverage two different modalities of root surface treatment, root planing and polishing versus polishing alone, over a 12-month period. METHODS: The study was conducted in a split-mouth design. Twenty-four non-smoking patients (14 females and 10 males, mean age 25.17 4.03 years) with high levels of oral hygiene (full-mouth plaque score <20%) and with two bilateral Class I buccal recessions up to 2 mm deep were selected for the study. In each patient one recession was randomly assigned to the test group and the contra-lateral one to the control group. In the test group the exposed root surface was gently debrided and polished with mini curets and mini rubber cups, while the control group was polished only. The root surface instrumentation was repeated twice a month during the first 2 months and at 2-month intervals over the next 10 months. Clinical measurements were taken at baseline and 12 months post-therapy. RESULTS: At baseline the mean recession depth in the test group was 1.64 +/- 0.37 mm and in the control sites 1.43 +/- 0.42 mm, which decreased at 12 months to 0.78 +/- 0.60 mm and to 1.34 +/- 0.45 mm, respectively. The difference between the two groups was significant (P <0.0001). No significant differences were observed in keratinized tissue width and probing depth improvements. CONCLUSIONS: The removal of microbial toxins from the exposed root surfaces by polishing prevents further progression of gingival recession; the reduction of root convexity by scaling and root planing promotes the coronal shift of the gingival margin.     

Acellular dermal matrix allografts to achieve increased attached gingiva. Part 1. A clinical study

BACKGROUND: Freeze-dried acellular dermal matrix (ADM) allograft, originally used for full-thickness burn wounds, was recently introduced as an alternative to the autogenous free gingival graft (FGG) in achieving increased attached keratinized tissue. The aim of part 1 of this study was to investigate the clinical efficacy of the ADM allograft for this particular purpose. METHODS: Twelve patients, 7 males and 5 females, with attached gingiva < or =1 mm on the facial aspect of mandibular anterior teeth demonstrating a tendency of progressive marginal tissue recession, were randomly assigned to either test or control treatment. Six patients received ADM graft (test) and 6 patients received an autogenous FGG harvested from the hard palate (control). Clinical variables including plaque index (PI), gingival index (GI), probing depth (PD), attached tissue width (AT), and gingival recession (GR) were recorded immediately before surgery and at the 6-month postoperative visit. Patients were seen at 2, 4, 6, 8, and 12 weeks to monitor wound healing and oral hygiene performance (PI and GI). Graft width was also measured, in corono-apical direction, on individually involved teeth during the surgery. RESULTS: When values between baseline and 6 months were compared in both groups, there was no statistically significant difference in changes of PI, GI, PD, and GR (P>0.05) with the exception of PD in the FGG group (1.01 +/- 0.03 versus 1.27 +/- 0.20 mm, P= 0.042). There was a statistically significant (P <0.05) increase in AT in both groups. Although the ADM group received wider grafts than the FGG group (8.81 +/- 0.46 versus 6.70 +/- 0.89 mm), the AT gain was significantly smaller (2.59 +/- 0.92 versus 5.57 +/- 0.44 mm) and the graft shrinkage significantly greater (71 +/- 10% versus 16 +/- 12%) in the ADM group than in the FGG group (P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study suggest that in procedures aiming at increasing the width of attached gingiva: 1) the ADM allograft was less effective and less predictable than the autogenous FGG in terms of increasing attached keratinized tissue due to considerable shrinkage and inconsistent quality of the attached tissue gained and 2) the esthetic results using the ADM allograft might be better than those using the autogenous FGG.     

Effect of free gingival grafts on naturally-occurring recession in miniature swine.

Miniature swine exhibit naturally-occurring, progressive recession on facial surfaces of the permanent mandibular incisors. The purpose of this study was to determine whether placing a free gingival graft to augment the width of keratinized gingiva of mandibular incisors in miniature swine would prevent or retard recession at the grafted site compared to an untreated contralateral control site. In 8 litter-mate miniature swine, free gingival grafts were placed on the facial surface of the permanent central and lateral incisors on one side of the mandible. The contralateral mandibular incisors did not receive any treatment and served as controls. Clinical measurements, including eruption, recession, pocket depth, attachment level, and keratinized gingival width were obtained preoperatively, 2 to 3 weeks after surgery to assess the success of gingival augmentation, and 3, 6, and 9 months postoperatively. Eight grafted sites were successful and showed significant augmentation of the keratinized gingival width, with a mean increase of 5.8 +/- 0.7 mm, while 6 grafts failed and showed a slight decrease in the mean width of -0.4 +/- 0.5 from the preoperative to postoperative examination. All sites showed significant recession during the experimental period. Successful sites showed no statistically significant or clinically major difference in the rate or amount of recession than contralateral control sites. By 9 months, the average increase in recession from the baseline examination was 2.8 +/- 1.5 mm for successfully grafted sites and 2.6 +/- 1.3 mm for contralateral controls.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)