Root coverage in molar recession: report of 50 consecutive cases treated with subepithelial connective tissue grafts.

BACKGROUND

The purpose of this study was to evaluate root coverage of molar recession defects.

METHODS

Fifty patients with a molar recession defect on one molar were treated with a subepithelial connective tissue graft. The procedure was performed as previously reported.

RESULTS

Complete root coverage was obtained in 29 of the 50 defects (58%). A mean root coverage of 91.1% was obtained. There was a statistically significant decrease in recession depth (4.4 mm to 0.5 mm), increase in quantity of keratinized tissue (0.9 mm to 3.1 mm), decrease in probing depth (3.0 mm to 2.3 mm), and decrease in attachment level loss (7.4 mm to 2.8 mm).

CONCLUSION

The subepithelial connective tissue graft is an effective method to obtain root coverage of recession defects on molars.