Creeping attachment of free gingival grafts. A five-year follow-up study

The purpose of this study was to observe the results subsequent to placing free gingival grafts in ten patients with areas of gingival recession less than 3 mm in width. The grafts were placed directly over the recession and were observed for a period of 5 years. In all cases, the attached gingiva increased and the recession halted and in no instance was the recession greater after surgery. One month after grafting, the phenomenon of bridging was measurable in four cases. The mean coverage, obtained principally by creeping attachment, was about 70%. Among the ten cases some coverage was seen in all patients and resulted in the improvement in the periodontium, functionally and esthetically. On the basis of this study, one could conclude that the coverage obtained when placing a free gingival graft directly over a narrow recession is advantageous. The coverage of the recession however is not always complete nor always predictable.