title: Comparative 6-month clinical study of a semilunar coronally positioned flap and subepithelial connective tissue graft for the treatment of gingival recession.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The purpose of this randomized clinical trial was to compare the outcome of gingival recession therapy using the semilunar coronally positioned flap (SCPF) or the subepithelial connective tissue graft (SCTG).
  
  
  METHODS
  Seventeen patients with bilateral Miller Class I buccal gingival recessions (<or=4 mm) in maxillary canines or premolars were selected. The recessions were randomly assigned to receive either the SCPF or the SCTG. Recession height (RH), recession width (RW), width of keratinized tissue (WKT), thickness of keratinized tissue (TKT), probing depth (PD), and clinical attachment level (CAL) were measured at baseline and 6 months post-surgery. Patient satisfaction with esthetics, root sensitivity, and postoperative pain was also evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The average percentages of root coverage for SCPF and SCTG were 90.95% and 96.10% (P<0.05), respectively, and the complete root coverage observed was 52.94% and 76.47%, respectively. The SCTG showed a statistically significant increase in TKT (P<0.05). There were no significant differences between the two groups with regard to RH, RW, WKT, PD, and CAL. The esthetic condition after both treatments was considered satisfactory by the patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings from this study indicate that SCPF and SCTG can be successfully used to treat Class I gingival recession.
authors.affiliation: Department of Prosthodontics and Periodontics, Division of Periodontics, School of Dentistry at Piracicaba, University of Campinas, Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Sandro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bittencourt
authors.forename: Erica
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Del Peloso Ribeiro
authors.forename: Enilson A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Sallum
authors.forename: Antônio W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Sallum
authors.forename: Francisco H
authors.initials: FH
authors.lastname: Nociti
authors.forename: Márcio Zaffalon
authors.initials: MZ
authors.lastname: Casati
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003238:Connective Tissue / Q000637:transplantation; D003481:Cuspid / Q000473:pathology; D004955:Esthetics, Dental; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005881:Gingiva / Q000473:pathology / Q000637:transplantation*; D005889:Gingival Recession / Q000145:classification / Q000601:surgery*; D005893:Gingivoplasty / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D007180:Incisor / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008437:Maxilla; D008875:Middle Aged; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000209:etiology; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D017622:Periodontal Attachment Loss / Q000145:classification / Q000601:surgery; D010514:Periodontal Pocket / Q000145:classification / Q000601:surgery; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D014092:Tooth Root / Q000473:pathology; D016896:Treatment Outcome