title: Treatment of gingival recession: comparison of two techniques of subepithelial connective tissue graft.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The increasing interest in esthetics and the subsequent need to solve related problems such as hypersensitivity and root caries have favored the development of many surgical procedures that permit the coverage of exposed roots. This clinical study was conducted to examine the coverage of gingival recession defects, where two different subepithelial connective tissue graft (SCTG) techniques (Langer and Langer and modified tunnel) were used.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty one patients (21 females and 10 males), each contributing Miller Class I and II gingival recessions, were selected. Recession defects were randomly treated by using the Langer and Langer technique (17 patients) or the modified tunnel technique (14 patients). Vertical recession, probing depth (PD), and attachment level were assessed at baseline and 6 months postoperatively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Six months after the surgery, a significant reduction in recession depth was noticed in both groups. There was also a decrease of PD and attachment level for both groups, but not statistically significant. In comparison, at 6 months, statically significant differences were found between the tunnel and Langer and Langer techniques for root coverage and attachment gain. The percentage of root coverage was 96.4% and 75.5% in the tunnel and Langer and Langer groups, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present study suggests that the use of SCTG in combination with a tunnel procedure may result in an increased amount of root coverage and clinical attachment gain compared to the Langer and Langer technique. Further comparative studies are necessary to understand the periodontal healing generated by the tunnel procedure and Langer and Langer technique.
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontology, Faculty of Dentistry, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey. ttozum@hacettepe.edu.tr
authors.forename: Tolga F
authors.initials: TF
authors.lastname: Tözüm
authors.forename: H Gencay
authors.initials: HG
authors.lastname: Keçeli
authors.forename: Güliz N
authors.initials: GN
authors.lastname: Güncü
authors.forename: Hasan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hatipoğlu
authors.forename: Dilek
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sengün
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003238:Connective Tissue / Q000637:transplantation; D004846:Epithelial Attachment / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005881:Gingiva / Q000637:transplantation*; D005889:Gingival Recession / Q000145:classification / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017622:Periodontal Attachment Loss / Q000145:classification / Q000601:surgery; D010514:Periodontal Pocket / Q000145:classification / Q000601:surgery; D013524:Surgical Flaps / Q000473:pathology; D014092:Tooth Root / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D014945:Wound Healing