Root coverage with subepithelial connective tissue grafts and modified tunnel technique. An evaluation of long-term...

Subepithelial connective tissue grafts (SCTG) have been shown to be effective in obtaining root coverage. Recent advances have focused on subepithelial connective tissue grafting by the tunnel technique to achieve successful root coverage. However, little is known about the long-term results of SCTG with tunnel technique procedure. The goal of the present study was to evaluate and compare the short-term and long-term (36 months) root coverage results of SCTG and the modified tunnel procedure. Patients, each contributing at least two adjacent buccal gingival recessions, were treated with SCTG and modified tunnel technique. The changes in the clinical measurements were compared at baseline, short-term and long-term. The mean root coverage was 95% and 92.2% at eight months and 36 months postsurgery, respectively. These differences were statistically significant compared to the baseline. The mean gain in attachment was 3.79 mm, and the mean root coverage was 3.14 mm after 36 months. The results of the present clinical study demonstrated that the SCTG with modified tunnel approach was an effective periodontal plastic surgery method to cover the exposed roots.