Creeping attachment after free gingival grafts

Area of Science:

• Periodontology
• Oral Surgery

Background:

• Gingival recession affects numerous patients, leading to aesthetic concerns and increased tooth sensitivity.
• Free gingival grafts are a common surgical approach to address gingival recession and root coverage.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of free gingival grafts in achieving root coverage through creeping attachment.
• To identify factors influencing the success of free gingival grafts in treating gingival recession.

Main Methods:

• 30 patients with gingival recession underwent free gingival grafting in the lower anterior vestibular region.
• Patients were categorized into four groups based on recession width (narrow vs. wide) and graft placement technique.
• Clinical measurements and photographs were taken preoperatively and at 1 month, 6 months, and 2 years postoperatively.

Main Results:

• Optimal gingival profile recovery was observed in patients with narrow recession (Group 1).
• Creeping attachment varied significantly across groups, ranging from 0% to 33% over two years.
• Graft placement over the denuded root (Groups 1 & 2) showed different outcomes compared to leaving a gingival collar (Groups 3 & 4).

Conclusions:

• Free gingival grafts can achieve root coverage, particularly in cases of narrow gingival recession.
• Recession width, graft positioning, bone resorption, tooth position, and patient hygiene are critical factors influencing creeping attachment outcomes.