Aim
To evaluate the superiority of coronally advanced flaps (CAFs) when used in combination with a xenogeneic collagen matrix (CMX) for root coverage of multiple adjacent gingival recessions.
Materials and Methods
Participants with at least 2 upper adjacent teeth exhibiting gingival recession depth ≥2 mm were recruited and randomized to CAF with (test) or without (control) CMX, respectively. Mean and complete root coverage, amount of keratinized tissue (KTw), gingival thickness (GThick) and patient‐reported outcomes (PROMs) were recorded at baseline, 3, 6 and 12 months.
Results
Twenty‐four patients providing 61 gingival recessions were analysed. After 1 year, gingival recession depth decreased from 2.3 ± 0.7 to 0.3 ± 0.4 mm in the CAF + CMX group (2.0 ± 0.8 mm meanRC) and from 2.6 ± 1.0 to 0.6 ± 0.3 mm in the control group (2.0 ± 1.1 mm meanRC). No difference was observed between the two groups (p = 0.2023). Nineteen (63%) of the test and 16 (52%) of control defects showed complete root coverage (p = 0.4919). GThick greatly increased in the test group (0.5 mm; 0.2–0.8 mm, 95% CI; p = 0.0057). No difference between the two groups was observed for KTw (p = 0.5668) and PROMs.
Conclusion
At 1 year, CAF + CMX provided similar root coverage to CAF alone, but a significant increase in gingival thickness.