Development and clinical evaluation of a root coverage procedure using a collagen barrier membrane

Area of Science:

• Periodontology
• Regenerative Dentistry
• Biomaterials in Oral Surgery

Background:

• Gingival recession defects require effective treatment for root coverage.
• Guided tissue regeneration (GTR) offers a promising approach for periodontal regeneration.
• Bioabsorbable membranes are utilized as barrier devices in GTR procedures.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of a bioabsorbable collagen membrane as a barrier device in root coverage for gingival recession defects.
• To assess clinical outcomes including root coverage, clinical attachment level, and keratinized tissue width.

Main Methods:

• A study involving 10 patients with Miller Class I or II gingival recession defects (> or =2.5 mm).
• Surgical placement of a collagen membrane followed by coronal flap repositioning.
• Clinical measurements (PI, GI, CAL, RD, RW, PD, KT) recorded at baseline and multiple follow-up intervals up to 6 months.

Main Results:

• A statistically significant reduction in recession depth (RD) by -1.66 mm (51.6% root coverage) was observed at 6 months (P < 0.01).
• Significant mean gains in clinical attachment level (CAL) of 1.34 mm and keratinized tissue (KT) of 0.90 mm were noted at 6 months.
• No significant changes in probing depth (PD) or recession width (RW); plaque index (PI) and gingival index (GI) remained stable.

Conclusions:

• A bioabsorbable collagen membrane can be successfully employed as a barrier device in GTR for root coverage procedures.
• The GTR approach with a collagen membrane yields significant improvements in root coverage and clinical attachment.
• This technique demonstrates predictable outcomes for treating gingival recession defects.