[Root coverage techniques--a literature review and a case report].

The main goal of periodontal therapy is to improve periodontal health and by doing so to maintain the patient's dentition. However, aesthetic, preservation and improvement have become an integral part of today's periodontal treatment. The term "Periodontal Plastic Surgery" was defined by the American Academy of Periodontology in 1996 as "surgical procedures preformed to prevent or correct anatomical, development, traumatic or plaque disease-induced defects of the gingiva, alveolar mucosa, or bone". Gingival recessions present a functional and aesthetic problem which is a major indication for Periodontal Plastic Surgery. The purpose of this paper is to describe the factors and etiology associated with gingival recessions and to provide a general overview of present root coverage procedures and their predictability. A case report, in which various techniques were implemented, is presented. Dentists should be aware of treatment options and their predictability, so that appropriate treatment modalities could be offered to patients.