Cryopreserved Umbilical Cord Allograft for Root Coverage of Gingival Recession Defects: A Case Series

Gingival recession is a component of periodontal disease that leads to exposure of the root surface, root hypersensitivity, and esthetic concerns. Treatment of these cases is typically performed with autologous grafts harvested from the palate. However, this is associated with a second surgical site that increases surgical time and patient morbidity. A potential alternative is the use of cryopreserved umbilical-cord allografts, which are known to contain anti-inflammatory properties and have been used clinically by numerous medical specialties. In this observational series, three patients with gingival recession (average gingival margin [GM]: 3.16 ± 1.13 mm) showing Miller Class I to III gingival recession were treated with cryopreserved umbilical-cord allografts. Ten days after the root coverage procedure, all patients reported no pain or discomfort, and only normal, mild swelling was observed. After 3 months, the gingival tissue was completely healed and matched the color and texture of the patient's surrounding tissue. At 1 year after surgery, patients exhibited 100% root coverage at 33 of 38 treated sites (average GM: 0.18 ± 0.51 mm), as well as an increase in band of attached gingiva. The encouraging safety and effectiveness of this report warrant further investigation of using cryopreserved umbilical cord allografts for periodontal root coverage.