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.
Hirsch
A
A
Department of Periodontics, Hebrew University Hadassah Faculty of Dental Medicine, Jerusalem, Israel.
Attal
U
U
Chai
E
E
Goultschin
J
J
Boyan
B D
BD
Schwartz
Z
Z
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D003238:Connective Tissue / Q000637:transplantation; D004848:Epithelium / Q000473:pathology; D004955:Esthetics, Dental; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005544:Forecasting; D005881:Gingiva / Q000637:transplantation*; D005889:Gingival Recession / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017622:Periodontal Attachment Loss / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D010514:Periodontal Pocket / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D016745:Root Planing; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D019237:Tooth Cervix / Q000473:pathology; D014092:Tooth Root / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome