Guided tissue regeneration in human gingival recessions. A 10-year follow-up study.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the changes of the mucogingival complex of guided tissue regeneration (GTR)-treated gingival recession defects over a 10-year follow-up.

METHODS

The study population consisted of 20 patients, 11 males and nine females, mean age: 44.3+/-10.4 years, each contributing one recession defect treated with a polytetrafluoroethylene membrane. Eight patients were smokers at the time of surgery and at 10 years post-surgery. Recession depth (RD), probing depth clinical attachment level (CAL), and width of keratinized gingiva (KG) were assessed immediately before surgery, at 6 months, 4 years and 10 years post-surgery.

RESULTS

RD was 0.9+/-0.6 mm at 6 months, 1.0+/-1.3 mm at 4 years and 1.3+/-1.6 mm at 10 years. CAL amounted to 1.9+/-1.0 mm at 6 months and shifted to 2.2+/-1.4 and 2.6+/-1.6 mm at 4 years and 10 years, respectively. KG significantly increased following surgery and remained stable thereafter. At 10-year examination, no significant changes from 4-year evaluation were observed. Differences in periodontal parameters between smokers and non-smokers were not statistically significant.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, the results of the present study failed to demonstrate changes over time in the clinical outcome achieved following GTR procedure in gingival recession defects over a period between 4 and 10 years post-surgery.