Evaluating the effectiveness of different root coverage procedures in the treatment of recession-type defects, this retrospective study by a Chambrone, et al was recently published in the Journal of Periodontology Online. The study searched the Cochrane Oral Health Group’s Trials Register, CENTRAL, MEDLINE, and EMBASE up to October 2008. There were no restrictions with regard to publication status or language of publication, and the researchers only included randomized controlled clinical trials (RCTs) of at least 6 months’ duration evaluating recession areas (Miller’s Class I or II ≥ 3 mm) and that were treated by means of periodontal plastic surgery procedures. The results of the literary review indicated that there was a significantly greater reduction in gingival recession and gain in keratinized tissue for subepithelial connective tissue grafts (SCTG) when compared to guided tissue regeneration with resorbable membranes (GTR rm). A significantly greater gain in keratinized tissue was found for enamel matrix protein when compared to coronally advanced flap (0.40 mm) and for SCTG when compared to GTR rm plus bone substitutes. The review found that there were limited data exist regarding aesthetic condition change related to patients’ opinion and patients’ preference for a specific procedure.
The study concluded that SCTG, coronally advanced flap alone, or associated with other biomaterial and guided tissue regeneration may be used as root coverage procedures for the treatment of localized recession-type defects. In cases where both root coverage and gain in keratinized tissue are expected, the use of SCTG seems to be more adequate.
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