Introduction
Gingival recession (GR) remains one of the most common aesthetic concerns associated with periodontal tissue.1 A denuded root surface frequently results from an interplay between the predisposing and triggering factors.2
When recession is untreated it is associated with thermal and tactile sensitivity, compromise in aesthetics, increased tendency for formation of root carries, continuous marginal bone loss eventually leading to tooth loss.3 With greater understanding of the dynamics of healing along with an increased awareness of aesthetics various periodontal procedures have been introduced to deal with problems of gingival recession.4 The selection of treatment modality depends on various tooth and soft tissue related factors. The predictability of treatment depends upon the type and severity of the recession.5
A number of recent systematic reviews have analysed multiple therapeutic approaches to gingival recession defects, including coronally advanced flap (CAF) alone and in combination with Sub epithelial connective tissue graft (SCTG), guided tissue regeneration(GTR), enamel matrix derivative (EMD), and acellular dermal matrix (ADM).6 Irrespective of the surgical approach, the ultimate goal of recession treatment technique is to achieve an optimal integration of the covering tissue with the adjacent soft tissue for a longer time period.7 The stability of any technique used for root coverage is determined by long term follow up. Long term stability of gingival recession management is based on numerous factors like proper elimination of aetiology, the right choice of technique, expertise of clinician, standard of oral hygiene and patient maintenance by patient.8
Though general literature evidence for root coverage procedures are abundantly available, only few vouch for the long term stability of the results. This article aims in providing an overview of various techniques available for the treatment of gingival recession and particularly probes into the literature reporting long term stability of the results.
Various studies published during the last 30 years and written in English were identified through a search of the PubMed/Medline, Science Direct and Cochrane Library databases. “Follow up”, “root coverage”, “root coverage procedures”, “root coverage techniques” were the key words used for the search.
A total of 200 Articles were retrieved form the search results. Excluding the cross references a total of 38 articles were included in the review. Articles were further grouped based on the techniques and analysed.
A total of 3 articles for FGG, 10 articles for CAF, 2 articles for SCTG, 13 articles for CAF + CTG, 6 articles for CAF along with other additional biomaterials, 2 articles for CTG along with other additional biomaterials and 2 articles for pedicle grafts were obtained with a long term follow up.
Discussion
Coronally Advanced flap
This technique was described first by Bernimoulin et al which involve’s the coronal repositioning of the gingival tissue which lies apical to the recession defect. 9 This technique along with Subepithelial connective tissue graft is considered the gold standard technique for recession coverage. Based on the biotype of the gingiva and the presence of keratinized tissue it can either be carried out as a single stage surgery or as a two stage surgery in combination with free gingival grafts to increase the width of attached gingiva. 10
The coronally advanced flap provides great esthetic results, because of the match of colour, texture and thickness blends with the gingiva in-situ. It is also of great reliability for the treatment of Millers Class I and II gingival recession. It achieves a mean root coverage of 55-99% and a complete root coverage of 24-95% of sites.11 Various modifications and combinations with different materials along with CAF is used for better results
The long term efficacy over a time period of more than 5 years of coronally advanced flap were analysed by various authors. Zuchelli et al 12 in 2005, stated that CAF produced an increased in keratinized tissue in 5 years. Leknes et al 13 in 2005, proposed that CAF showed significant gain in root coverage and improvement in clinical parameters irrespective of the placement of biodegradable membrane over a period of 6 years. DeSanctis M 14 in 2007 concluded that a modified form of CAF was effective in treating isolated recession over a 3 year period. Nickles.K 15 et al in 2010 & Pini Prato 16 in 2011 also stated that CAF proved to be an effective technique for obtaining root coverage in comparison with GTR and various other techniques over a period of more than 8 years. Michel. K.Mcguire 6 et al in 2012 concluded that CAF in combination with EMD and CTG resulted in better esthetic results in 10 years, and in 2014 17 stated that CAF along with CTG showed reduction in recession defect in 5 years. Buti J 18 et al in 2013 concluded that CAF with CTG ranked highest in effectiveness for recession reduction and CAL gain. Shula et al 19 and Karin Jespen 20 et al in 2017 stated that CAF+CTG and CAF + CMX provided better root coverage in 5 years and 3 years respectively. Improvement’s in recession depth was noted over a period of 20 years by Pini Prato 21 in 2018 when treated with CAF. (Table 1)(Table 2)
Connective tissue graft
The subepithelial connective tissue graft described by Langer & Langer in 1985, 22 is a bilaminar procedure designed to maximise the gingival & supra periosteal blood supply. It was provide as an alternative for free gingival grafts since it provided with great esthetic results, lower morbidity of donor site due to its healing by primary intention.
Along with root coverage it also helps in increasing the thickness of gingival tissue. Various combinations and modifications of connective tissue graft like the usage of an envelope or tunnel flap or the use of epithelial collar along with CTG has also been used to provide better results. 23 A mean root coverage of 97% was reported by Harris. J. Randal in 1992 with the use of CTG. 24
Various authors such as Rossberg 25 et al n 2008 reported that with the use of CTG a recession in reduction depth was observed over a time period of 22 years, whereas over a span of 5 years, it was reported that CAF + CTG showed better root coverage in comparison with CAF alone by Pini Prato 26 et al in 2010. The gingival width was found to be stable with CTG in comparison with ADM when analysed by Moslemi 27 in 2011 & CTG+CAF was found to be superior in the treatment of Gingival recession by Davor Kuis 28 in 2013 in 5 years. Zuchelli 29 and Cairo 30 et al in 2014 & 2015 respectively stated that CAF +CTG showed long term better results in comparison with CAF alone. Good improvement in aesthetics and stability over 15 years was obtained with CAF and SCTG as reported by Luca Francetti 31 in 2018. Rasperini 32 et al in 2019 stated that the marginal stability of single maxillary recessions was improved with CAF + CTG in 9 years. Knut Adam 33 in 2019 reported that there was increase in keratinized tissue in gingival recession when treated with CTG+EMD in 18 years. Douglas H 34 in 2019 also reported that along with ADM, CTG resulted in recession depth reduction and increase in keratinized gingiva width in 15 years (Table 1).
Table 1
Follow up duration |
Procedure |
Author |
Year |
Type of study |
Number of cases |
Parameters measured |
Clinical effectiveness |
25 years |
FGG |
Agudio35 41 et al |
2017 |
Longitudinal study |
74 patients (182 sites) |
Recession depth Probing depth Width of keratinized tissue Recession +Keratinized Tissue |
Reduced recession depth Keratinized tissue contraction Improved aesthetics |
22 years |
CAF+CTG |
Rossberg M26 et al |
2008 |
Case series |
20 cases (39 sites |
Recession depth Complete root coverage Patient satisfaction |
82% complete root coverage Reduced recession depth Negative influence of baseline recession height Positive influence of location of recession Good patient satisfaction |
20 years |
CAFvs CAF+CTG |
Pini Prato21 et al |
2018 |
Longitudinal study |
94 patients (97 sites) |
Recession depth Probing depth Width of keratinized tissue |
Improvements in recession depth Decrease in mean root coverage |
18 years |
CTG+EMD |
Knut Adam33 et al |
2019 |
Longitudinal study |
16 patients (25 sites) |
Complete root coverage Recession depth PPD CAL Width of keratinized tissue |
19 sites with CRC Reduced RD,PPD and CAL Increased wKT |
15 years |
CAF+SCTG |
Luca Franceti32 et al |
2018 |
Case report |
1 patient (1 site) |
Recession depth |
Resolution of gingival recession Improved aesthetics |
15 years |
CTG+ADM |
Douglas H36 et al |
2019 |
Case report |
1 patient (1 site) |
Recession depth PPD Width of keratinized tissue |
Reduced PPD and recession depth Increased width of keratinized tissue |
14 years |
CAF vs Root planning & polishing |
Pini Prato et al37 |
2011 |
Randomized split mouth trial |
10 patients (Bilateral recession) |
Recession depth |
Improvements in recession depth |
10 years |
CAF+ EMD Vs CAF+SCTG |
Michael .K. Mcguire6 et al |
2012 |
Split mouth RCT |
17 Patients |
Gigival recession depth Probing depth CAL Width of KT Percentage of root coverage Colour, texture, contour of treated sites Dentinal hypersensitivity |
Increased PD Increased wKT in EMD EMD-Marginal tissue contour was similar to adjacent teeth SCTG- Higher than adjacent teeth Similar aesthetic outcomes in both groups |
10 years |
Periosteal pedicle graft |
Ajay Mahajan38 et al |
2018 |
Sytematic review |
17 publications |
Minimal side effects |
|
10 years |
CAF+CTG vs CAF+GTR |
Nickles.K15 et al |
2010 |
RCT |
15 patients |
Root coverage Recession depth |
CTG Stability of root coverage Reduction of recession depth |
9 years |
CAF+CTG vs CAF |
Rasperini Giulio7 et al |
2018 |
RCT |
25 recessions |
recession depth Keratinized tissue width Dentinal hypersensitivity |
CTG Increased keratinized tissue Both techniques- Stability over time |
8 years |
CAF+CTG |
Pini Prato et al16 |
2011 |
Longitudinal study |
60 patients |
Root coverage Recession reduction Amount of keratinized tissue |
Recession relapse Reduction of Kertainized tissue |
6 years |
CAF vs CAF + Biodegradble membrane |
Leknes et al13 |
2005 |
RCT |
20 patients (20 sites- CAF) (20 sites CAF+biodegradable membrane) |
Apical extent of recession Width of defect at CEJ Width of Keratinized tissue CAL PPD |
CAF alone 10 sites exhibit complete root coverage Improvement in clinical parameters |
6 years |
LPF |
AM Norudeen39 Et al |
2013 |
Case report |
1 site (46) |
CAL Width of attached gingiva |
Gain in CAL Increased width of attached gingiva |
5 years |
CAF+SCTG Vs CAF+ADM |
Shula Zuleika19 |
2017 |
RCT |
11 sites- SCTG 11 sites-ADM |
Gingival recession Width of attached gingiva CAL |
SCTG was better than ADM |
5 years |
CAF |
Zuchelli et al12 |
2005 |
Experimental study |
22 patients (73 sites) |
Height of keratinized tissue Recession depth |
Increased keratinized tissue Increase in recession depth Successful root coverage |
5 years |
Surgical/Non Surgical |
Lindhe8 et al |
1984 |
Longitudinal study |
15 patients |
Probing depth CAL Gingival conditions Oral hygiene |
Oral hygiene has influence on long term results Sites with initial pocket depth more than 3mm also responded well |
5 years |
CAF+CTG |
Zuchelli29 et al |
2014 |
RCT |
G1- (25)CAF+CTG G2-CAF (25) |
Recession height Complete root coverage Width of attached gingiva |
CAF+CTG Greater recession reduction Increased width of attached gingiva Complete root coverage |
5 years |
CAF vs CAF+CTG |
Davor Kuis28 et al |
2013 |
RCT |
37 patients (114 sites) |
Recession length Keratinized tissue width Complete root coverage Percentage of root coverage |
CAF+CTG Better Recession length reduction, CRC &PRC Increased Keratinized tissue width |
5 years |
CAF+ Platelet derived growth factor Vs CAF+CTG |
McGuire et al17 |
2014 |
Split mouth RCT |
G1- CAF+ Growth factor(10 pts) G2- CAF + CTG (10pts) |
Recession depth Probing depth CAL Height of keratinized tissue Percentage of root coverage |
CAF+PGF Improved recession Percentage of root coverage Increased Keratinized tissue height Both groups 100% root coverage CAL changes |
5 years |
FGG |
Jacques Matter 40 et al |
1980 |
Observational study |
10 patients |
Recession length Width of exposed root surface |
Increase in attached gingiva Initial extension of recession by 1mm |
5 years |
CAF vs CAF+CTG |
Pini prato26 et al |
2010 |
Longitudinal study |
13 patients (49 sites –CAF 44-CAF+CTG) |
Recession depth Probing depth CAL |
CAF+CTG resulted in better results than CAF |
5 years |
ADMA vs SCTG |
Moslemi27 et al |
2011 |
Split mouth RCT |
16 patients |
Probing depth Recession depth Recession width Gingival width |
Improvement in clinical parameters in both the groups Gingival width did not increase in ADMA group More relapse observed in patients with horizontal tooth brushing habit |
Free Gingival Graft
Free gingival graft was first described by Bjorn in 1963. 36 It was initially used as a means to increase the width of attached gingiva and increase the vestibular depth, and was later used for root coverage. It can be used in treating root coverage either as one stage or two stage procedure where the free gingival graft is placed apical to the recession and later, post healing a pedicle flap was raised to cover the tooth.23 Pagliaro 41 et al stated that the mean root coverage achieved by free gingival graft varies between 9-87% and the complete root coverage varies between 9-72% sites. The success of these grafts are influenced by various factors like thickness and immobilization of the graft, adequate blood supply from adjacent sites and smoking habits of the patient. Despite of various advantages of the technique like its simple technique and ability to increase the width of attached gingiva, various disadvantages of the technique such as increased discomfort, colour mismatch and large donor site wound are also evident. 42
Ratietshack 43 in 1979 stated that FGG along with vestibuloplasty, resulted in root coverage without recurrence of recession along with gain in vestibular depth in 4 years. 70% root coverage was obtained in patients with a recession depth less than 3 mm over a span of 5 years as stated by Jacques Matter40 in 1980. Agudio 35 et al in 2017 reported that in 25 years the treatment of gingival recession with FGG promoted favourable keratinized tissue and improved the marginal tissue recession.(Table 1 )
Table 2
4 years |
SCTG |
Langer22 et al |
1985 |
Longitudinal study |
60 patients |
• Root coverage |
• 2-6mm root coverage has been achieved |
4 years |
FGG+ Vestibuloplasty |
Rateitschak KH43 et al |
1979 |
Longitudinal study |
12 patients (42 teeth) |
• Vestibular depth |
• Increase in vestibular depth • Vestibule depth decrease up to transplant margin • Graft shrinkage up to 25% |
3 years |
LPF+ SCTG |
Chu tee lee44 et al |
2014 |
Case report |
3 recession sites |
• Recession depth • Hypersensitivity |
• Improvement in recession depth • Reduced /hypersensitivity |
3 years |
CAF Vs CAF+CMX |
Karin Jepsen20 et al |
2017 |
RCT |
18 patients (36 sites) |
• Percentage of root coverage • Complete root coverage • Thickness of attached gingiva • Width of attached gingiva |
CAF+CMX • 91.7% root coverage • Increased thickness and width of attached gingiva |
3 years |
CAF+CTG vs CAF |
Cairo. F30 et al |
2015 |
RCT |
24 patients (CAF+CTG-13 patients CAF-11 patients) |
• Recession depth • Probing depth • CAL • Distance from incisal margin to CEJ • Distance from incisal margin to Gingival margin • Distance from incisal margin to MGJ • Keratinized tissue • Dental hypersensitivity |
• CAF+CTG was better in terms of complete root coverage & higher KT gain • No difference between the groups in recession depth, probing depth and CAL |
3 years |
LPF vs CAF |
Raul G. Caffesse45 et al |
1980 |
Observational study |
26 recession sites |
• Pocket depth • Gingival recession • Width of attached gingiva |
• No significant changes between two groups • Clinical parameters remained stable |
3 years |
CAF |
de Sanctis M et al14 |
2007 |
Longitudinal study |
40 patiets |
• Recession depth • Pocket depth • CAL • Height of keratinized tissue |
• Improvement in recession depth • Gain in CAL • Reduced probing depth • Increased keratinized tissue |
2 years |
LPF |
Luiz Armando Chambronee46 45 et al |
2009 |
Longitudinal study |
32 patients |
• Recession depth • Keratinized tissue width • Probing depth • CAL |
• Decrease in recession depth • Decreased CAL • Decrease in probing depth • Increased keratinized tissue width |
1 year |
Double papilla flap |
Pallavi samantha47 et al |
2014 |
Case report |
1 patient (1 site) |
• Recession length • Recession width • Width of attached gingiva • Probing depth |
• Complete root coverage • Good aesthetics |
1 year |
LPF+CTG |
Avadesh48 et al |
2014 |
Case report |
1 patient (1 site) |
• Recession depth • PPD • Gingival height |
• Predictable root coverage achieved |
1 year |
Double papilla flap+ CTG |
Sunil49 et al |
2017 |
Case report |
1 patient (1 site) |
• Recession depth • Recession width • Width of keratinized tissue |
• Root coverage • Increased width of keratinized gingiva |
1 year |
LPF+CTG |
Thiago Machi50 et al |
2010 |
Case report |
1 patient (1 site) |
• Recession depth • Width of keratinized tissue • Dentin hypersensitivity |
• Complete root coverage • Increased keratinized tissue • Absence of dentin hypersensitivity • Good aesthetic outcome |
Rotational Pedicle Grafts
Pedicle grafts was the periodontal plastic surgery proposed in 1956. The pedicle graft retains its blood supply through its attachment to the base and facilitating revascularisation with the recipient site. Pedicle grafts provide long term aesthetic results in the presence of adequate width of attached gingiva. Pedicle flaps are contraindicated in sites with shallow vestibule, less width of keratinized tissue and with high frenal attachment.23
The Laterally positioned flap is the first pedicle flap used in 1956, introduced by Grupe and Warren. Various modifications of the original technique were given by several authors to overcome recession in adjacent tooth. The success rate of lateral pedicle graft is evaluated to be 69-72% by Zuchelli.G51 in 2004.
One of the modifications of laterally positioned flap to overcome its limitations is the Double papilla flap by Cohen and Ross. It can be used in cases with insufficient attached gingiva, and provides excellent aesthetic results and colour match. The only drawback of the technique is, it can be used for treatment of single tooth recessions only.52
Several authors have used the rotational pedicle flaps for root coverage and reported its long term stability, Only few studies are available with a follow up of more than 5 years as of rotational pedicle flaps are considered. Ajay Mahajan38 et al in 2018, in his systematic review of periosteal pedicle grafts stated that it has has minimal side effects and improved clinical parameters when compared to other root coverage techniques in over a period of 10 years, which is the longest follow up period available in the literature assessing the efficacy of pedicle graft. Luiz Armando 53 et al in 2009 stated that, treatment of gingival recessions with LPF showed significant improvement in all clinical parameters , whereas gain in width of keratinized tissue was more in maxillary defects when compared with mandibular defects in 2 years. Thiago Machi in 2010 reported that with LPF, gingival recessions showed complete root coverage, increased keratinized tissue, absence of dentin hypersensitivity and very good aesthetic outcomes in a span of 1 year. A.M.Noorudien39 in 2013 reported that, LPF showed keratinized tissue gain and 8mm attachment gain in 6 years. Root coverage of 83% was obtained in a span of 1 year and 3 years with LPF along with CTG, as reported by Awadesh Kumar48 and Chun Tee Lee44 in 2014 respectively. Pallavi47 in 2014 and Sunil49 in 2017 treated gingival recessions with Double papilla flaps and reported aesthetically satisfying results in 3 months and 1 year respectively.(Table 1, Table 2)
Summary of Findings
This review aimed to evaluate all the available literature reporting long term outcomes of techniques for treatment of gingival recession. Literature search revealed that only few articles presented long term findings of root coverage techniques. Of all the studies 3 studies reported long term follow up for FGG as 25 years,19 studies reported a long term follow up for CAF in combination with CTG,EMD,ADM etc, with the longest follow being 22 years, Whereas 3 studies reported the longest follow up of CTG being 18 years. Minimum evidence was found for pedicle grafts out of which most of them were only case reports with a maximum follow up of 6 years and a systematic review with a follow up of 10 years. The longest long term follow up available was 25 years which was for FGG
On analysing the collected literature:
Apart from CAF+CTG there is a lack of evidence for long term clinical outcomes and stability of results for other techniques of root coverage
All the studies used complete root coverage, Height and width of keratinized tissue, absence of periodontal pocket and bleeding on probing and presence of clinically healthy gingiva of the treated sites as the primary outcome
Very few studies have analysed other parameters like height of the interdental tissue, status of dentinal hypersensitivity and patient satisfaction
In cases of recession with inadequate keratinized tissue or shallow vestibule FGG appears to provide long term stable results in terms of increase in width of keratinized tissue. But evidence for complete root coverage is moderate.
In cases with adequate amount of keratinized tissue CAF appears to be the treatment of choice and long term evidence supports the same. CAF along with additives like GTR, AMD, PRF etc does not prove to be better over CAF alone over long term
CAF + CTG is the most extensively reported technique with long term results. This seems to be the most promising technique in terms of complete root coverage, gain in keratinized tissue, esthetics, over long term and is rightly considered the “Gold Standard”
Conclusion
Treatment of gingival recession has gained therapeutic importance over years due to increased aesthetic concern among patients and advent of new promising surgical techniques. Though CTG is considered as the gold standard it is not the only best surgical option in all cases. Careful analysis of patient related factors, defect related factors, clinician’s expertise should be the key considerations in selecting appropriate technique.