Treatment of single and multiple Miller Class I and II recessions with the Modified Coronally Advanced Tunnel

Abstract

Aim: To evaluate clinically the healing of single and multiple Miller Class I and II gingival recessions treated with the Modified Coronally Advanced Tunnel technique (MCAT) and Subepithelial Connective Tissue Graft (SCTG). Material and Methods: Ten healthy patients (9 women and 1 man) with a total of 30 Miller Class I and II gingival recessions were treated with MCAT in conjunction with SCTG. Three patients had 4 single recessions while the rest of 26 recessions were distributed in the rest of 7 patients. Post-surgically patients were given antibiotics (3 9 500 mg amoxicillin) for 7 days to prevent infection. No mechanical cleaning was performed at the surgical sites for 14 days following surgery. Patients were advised to use 0.12% chlorhexidine gluconate mouth rinse solution twice a day for two weeks. Sutures were removed at either 7 days (from the palatal donor site) or at 14 days (from the area of the treated recession) after surgery. Treatment outcomes were assessed at baseline and at 6 months postoperatively. The primary outcome variable was complete root coverage (CRC). Results: No complications such as postoperative bleeding, allergic reactions, abscesses, or loss of SCTG were observed. At 6 months, substantial root coverage was obtained in all 30 defects. CRC was measured in 27 out of the 30 defects (90%). In the remaining 3 defects, CRC measured 70%, 85% and 90%, respectively. Mean root coverage was 98.17%. Conclusion: Within their limits, the present results indicate that the described treatment approach may lead to predictable root coverage of single and multiple Miller Class I and II gingival recessions.