Abstract
Background: The management of recessions in the lower anterior teeth poses significant challenges within the realm of surgical dentistry. The traditional “gold standard” technique involves the application of a bilaminar connective tissue graft (CTG) in combination with a coronally advanced flap (CAF). This method necessitates the harvesting of palatal tissue grafts, which can lead to increased postoperative pain and morbidity for patients. The objective of this case report is to evaluate the efficacy of employing a combination of volume-stable collagen xenograft (VSCX) and enamel matrix derivative (EMD) in addressing Type I-II recessions in the lower anterior teeth.
Methods: A total of five patients received treatment utilizing VSCX and EMD. The procedure included partial thickness dissection along with vertical coronally advanced flap (VCAF) to ensure adequate coverage of both the VSCX and EMD. Clinical parameters were assessed at a 12-month follow-up, concentrating on standard clinical periodontal parameters such as changes in recession depth, keratinized tissue height, root coverage, and the incidence of complete root coverage.
Results: Complete root coverage was successfully attained in 12 of the 17 teeth treated for gingival recession. The recession depth exhibited significant reduction in the treated patients, with improvements ranging from 3 to 7 mm. Furthermore, an increase in keratinized tissue width of 2 to 4 mm was observed across all patients.
Conclusion: The findings presented in this case report suggest that the combination of VSCX and EMD represents a viable and effective treatment option for managing Type I-II recessions in the lower anterior teeth. This approach reduces the necessity for harvesting autogenous grafts, thereby minimizing patient discomfort and morbidity while also decreasing the overall surgical time required for treatment.