Root Coverage and Pocket Reduction as Combined Surgical Procedures

• Published in: Journal of periodontology (1970) Vol. 72; no. 11; pp. 1572 - 1579
• Main Authors: Hirsch, A., Attal, U., Chai, E., Goultschin, J., Boyan, B.D., Schwartz, Z.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 737 N. Michigan Avenue, Suite 800, Chicago, IL 60611‐2690, USA American Academy of Periodontology 01-11-2001
• Subjects: Adult; Analysis of Variance; Connective Tissue - transplantation; Dentistry; Epithelium - pathology; Esthetics, Dental; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Forecasting; Gingiva - transplantation; Gingival Recession - pathology; Gingival Recession - surgery; Grafts, connective tissue; grafts, subepithelial; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Periodontal Attachment Loss - pathology; Periodontal Attachment Loss - surgery; Periodontal Pocket - pathology; Periodontal Pocket - surgery; Root Planing; Statistics as Topic; Surgical Flaps; Tooth Cervix - pathology; tooth root; Tooth Root - surgery; Treatment Outcome
• ISSN: 0022-3492; 1943-3670
• DOI: 10.1902/jop.2001.72.11.1572

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. J Periodontol 2001;72: 1572‐1579.