Premium
Gingiva Thickness in Guided Tissue Regeneration and Associated Recession at Facial Furcation Defects
Author(s) -
Anderegg Charles R.,
Metzler David G.,
Nicoll Brian K.
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
journal of periodontology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.036
H-Index - 156
eISSN - 1943-3670
pISSN - 0022-3492
DOI - 10.1902/jop.1995.66.5.397
Subject(s) - gingival recession , gingival margin , medicine , dentistry , furcation defect , regeneration (biology) , molar , orthodontics , biology , microbiology and biotechnology
C onsistently successful regenerative therapy for furcation defects using membrane techniques remains a challenge for clinicians. The purpose of this study was to determine if the thickness of tissue used to cover the membrane influences postsurgery recession. Thirty‐seven (37) moderate to advanced adult periodontitis patients presenting with at least one mandibular or maxillary molar class 1 or 2 facial furcation involvement participated in the study. Mid‐facial presurgery recession was recorded from the cemento‐enamel junction to the free gingival margin at a reproducible point. Mid‐facial tissue thickness was measured using calipers at a point 5 mm apical to the gingival margin of the mucogingival flap reflected at the time of guided tissue regeneration surgery. Patients were divided into 2 groups based upon tissue thickness measurement. Patients were then re‐evaluated for recession at 6 months postsurgery. Sixteen (16) patients with tissue thickness ≤ 1 mm demonstrated a mean 2.1 mm increase in recession, while 21 patients with tissue thickness > 1 mm exhibited a mean 0.6 mm increase in recession. We conclude that there is less post‐treatment recession ( P < 0.01) for tissue thickness > 1 mm than tissue thickness ≤ 1 mm. Hence, thickness of gingival tissue covering a membrane appears to be a factor to consider if post‐treatment recession is to be minimized or avoided. J Periodontol 1995; 66:397–402 .