Preservation of Natural Gingival Pigmentation When Treating Multiple Gingival Recession Defects.

Proper surgical techniques can permit treatment of multiple gingival recession defects without altering the visible gingival pigmentation. In this case report, a patient presented with multiple adjacent sites displaying gingival recession. Natural pigmentation was present in the interdental papillae and in the zone of keratinized gingiva. This patient wanted his natural pigmentation to be preserved. A modified tunnel technique was used to avoid traumatizing the pigmented tissues and allow placement of a large graft. A double layer of an acellular dermal matrix (ADM) was implanted and the gingival complex was relocated coronally. Root coverage and preservation of the natural gingival pigmentation were achieved. The use of the modified tunnel technique with a double layer of ADM can preserve natural gingival pigmentation when treating adjacent gingival recession defects.