Periodontal soft tissue non-root coverage procedures: a consensus report from the AAP Regeneration Workshop

Area of Science:

• Periodontal Plastic Surgery
• Soft Tissue Grafting
• Keratinized Tissue (KT) Augmentation

Background:

• Soft tissue grafting is crucial for increasing keratinized tissue (KT) width in periodontal treatment.
• A systematic review focused on non-root coverage tissue grafts, with updated literature.
• The study addresses the clinical necessity and techniques for KT augmentation.

Framework:

• A consensus report was developed based on a systematic review of current literature.
• Group members reviewed new literature meeting systematic review criteria for inclusion.
• The report aims to guide clinicians in treatment decision-making for KT augmentation.

Implementation:

• Forty-six articles were included in the final analysis.
• Two additional articles were incorporated for the consensus report formulation.
• Eight clinically relevant questions were posed, leading to consensus statements.

Implications:

• A minimum of 2 mm of KT is recommended for preventing attachment loss (AL) with suboptimal plaque control.
• Autogenous gingival grafts are the predictable standard for gaining KT.
• Limited evidence exists for alternative treatments, though future research may yield results.