Subpedicle connective tissue graft versus free gingival graft in the coverage of exposed root surfaces. A 5-year clinical study.

The authors compared the clinical results obtained in gingival recession correction treatment using free gingival and bilaminar connective subpedicle grafts. 35 patients were treated with free gingival grafts (Group A) and 35 with subpedicle grafts (Group B). Class I and II Miller gingival recessions were chosen for treatment by the 2 procedures. The degree of gingival recession (GR), keratinized tissue (KT) and the exposed root surface area (ERSA) were measured preoperatively and again 5 years post-surgery. Bilaminar connective grafting showed better results in reducing the amount of GR while both techniques significantly increased the width of KT (p > 0.05). The mean % of root coverage obtained in patients in group A was 53.19% +/- 21.48, whereas for the group B, 85.23% +/- 17.86 of exposed root surface was covered post surgical intervention (p < 0.001). In group A, only 3 patients (8.75%) showed a complete resolution of gingival recession after treatment, whereas in group B, 17 subjects (48.57%) presented with complete coverage. On the basis of these results, the authors conclude that the subpedicle graft promises better results in the coverage of exposed root surfaces when compared with the free gingival graft.