Root Coverage with Connective Tissue Graft in Patients with Thin Periodontal Biotype: A Case Series with 12-month Follow-up.

Preoperative gingival thickness is an important factor in the success of complete root coverage. Here, two cases are reported in which a biotype probe was used to assess the periodontal biotype before performance of a root coverage procedure. Clinical examinations were performed at baseline and at 3, 6, and 12 months postoperatively. The following clinical parameters were evaluated: probing depth, recession height, clinical attachment level, bleeding on probing, and width of keratinized gingiva. At baseline and at 12 months postoperatively, periodontal biotype was estimated using the biotype probe. The root coverage esthetic score was assessed to determine esthetic outcome at baseline and at 3, 6, and 12 months postoperatively. The periodontal biotypes in the mandibular central and lateral incisors were judged to be thin. These teeth presented with Miller Class II gingival recession after orthodontic therapy. Gingival recession was treated with a coronally advanced flap and autogenous connective tissue graft. In both cases, improvements in all clinical parameters and root coverage esthetic scores were evaluated at 3, 6, and 12 months postoperatively. The treated recession showed 100% root coverage. The periodontal biotype changed from one that was thin to one that was thick at the surgical sites. In both the present cases, objective preoperative assessment of the periodontal biotype allowed the appropriate surgical procedure to be selected.