Coronally advanced flap procedure: is the interdental papilla a prognostic factor for root coverage?

Area of Science:

• Periodontology
• Dental Surgery
• Regenerative Dentistry

Background:

• Gingival recessions are common and can lead to aesthetic and functional concerns.
• The coronally advanced flap (CAF) procedure is a common surgical technique for treating gingival recessions.
• The role of interdental papilla dimensions as a prognostic factor for CAF outcomes requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine if interdental papilla dimensions (height and area) influence the clinical outcome of the coronally advanced flap (CAF) procedure for treating gingival recessions.
• To assess the correlation between papilla measurements and the degree of root coverage achieved.
• To evaluate the relationship between papilla dimensions and the likelihood of achieving complete root coverage.

Main Methods:

• Thirty-three Miller Class I gingival recessions in 33 patients were treated with the CAF procedure.
• Clinical measurements (probing depth, recession depth, keratinized tissue width, clinical attachment level) were recorded at baseline and 3 months post-surgery.
• Digital analysis of pre-operative photographs quantified interdental papilla dimensions (base, height, area) and recession characteristics (width, depth, root surface area).

Main Results:

• Root coverage (in mm²) was not significantly correlated with papilla area (P=0.3692) or papilla height (P=0.0968).
• Complete root coverage was not significantly correlated with papilla area (P=0.3181).
• Complete root coverage showed a significant correlation with lower papilla height (P=0.0499).

Conclusions:

• Interdental papilla dimensions do not appear to be a significant prognostic factor for the overall degree of root coverage following CAF surgery.
• Sites with lower adjacent interdental papilla height demonstrated a statistically significant higher frequency of complete root coverage after CAF.
• These findings suggest that while papilla size may not predict partial coverage, its height could be a relevant factor for achieving complete root coverage in gingival recession treatment.