Very Long-term Analysis of Root Coverage Stability Using Subepithelial Connective Tissue Graft Techniques for Gingival Recession Treatment.

Dental-periodontal procedures and clinical measurements.

Dental and periodontal conditions were assessed and treated according to needs in all participants. Emergencies, such as pain or acute dental-periodontal infections, were treated to establish a stable dental-periodontal condition. Cause-related therapy, including patient motivation and professional oral hygiene, was planned and completed.

At the end of cause-related therapy, the following baseline clinical measurements were taken by an investigator: probing depth (PD), keratinized tissue width (KTW), full-mouth plaque scores (FMPS), full-mouth bleeding scores (FMBS), bleeding on probing (BoP), gingival recession depth (RD), gingival recession width (RW), and gingival recession area (RA).

PD and KTW were evaluated using a periodontal probe (University of North Carolina Probe 15 tip) to the nearest 0.5mm. PD was measured at 4 aspects per tooth axially, from the free gingival margin to the most apical part of the sulcus, and, additionally, PD at the mid buccal point; KTW at the mid-buccal point, from the free gingival margin to the mucogingival-junction (MGJ). FMPS was recorded as the percentage of total tooth surfaces (4 aspects per tooth) displaying the presence of plaque, FMBS was calculated as the percentage of total tooth surfaces (4 aspects per tooth) showing bleeding on probing (BoP) was dichotomously assessed.

The bi-dimensional shape of each exposed root surface was reproduced with a lead sheet template. The template had the shape of a triangle with a curved base lining the cemento-enamel-junction (CEJ) and two sides lining the mesial and distal margins of the GR merging at the most apical point of the GR. All templates were measured, coded and stored. The following measurements were recently repeated using an image analysis software: RD, from the most apical point of the triangle to the base; RW, measured at the CEJ level (i.e., at the base of the template) and RA, as the total template area.