Evaluation of a De-epithelialized Free Gingival Connective Tissue Graft Wall Technique in Management of Cairo's RT2 and RT3 With Intra-bony Defects: A Case Series

Recession is usually treated by an array of mucogingival surgical techniques. The choice of the procedure depends on the morphology of the recession defect. Full root coverage in RT2 and RT3 gingival recession defects cannot always be predictably achieved due to the presence of bone loss. Improvement is further complicated when these recessions are associated with intra-bony defects as mucogingival surgical techniques are not designed to treat intra-bony defects. The preferred surgical modality for treatment of intrabony defects is guided tissue regeneration. However when considering recession defects, the amount of root coverage achieved by GTR may be limited with less results achieved.

Most of the root coverage procedures have proven to be successful, however, when recession is associated with intrabony defect especially in cases of low height and thickness of keratinized tissue and GTR is performed, the treatment results were unpredictable and it was found that the recession might increase post-surgically, so the procedure might offer a limited benefit.

Therefore, the technique introduced by Zucchelli et al. in 2014 in cases of RT2 and RT3 gingival recession associated with intra bony defects seems promising with regard to recession depth reduction and radiographic bone fill. A simplified papilla preservation technique was performed on the defect site, a de-epithelialized free gingival graft was used to treat the gingival recession present and intrabony defects because it acted as a membrane, creating a buccal wall to the intra-bony defect from one side and on the palatal aspect since no flap elevation was done. The palatal connective tissue acted as a palatal wall preventing gingival epithelium and connective tissue from contacting the space created allowing both improved root coverage and bone fill. He reported interproximal probing depth reduction, clinical attachment gain, improvement in the papilla covering the intrabony defect regarding the gingival thickness and root coverage and complete bone fill was shown radiographically in 1 year.

This technique needs more investigations, but it seems encouraging to improve regenerative and esthetic parameters in the treatment of deep infrabony defects, in one surgical session.