Expanded polytetrafluoroethylene titanium-reinforced membranes for regeneration of mucogingival recession defects. A 12-case report.

The regeneration of tissue to treat mucogingival recession defects is well established but these defects pose additional challenges for the clinician in the creation and maintenance of a space under the guiding membrane. We used titanium-reinforced membranes of expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) to facilitate the creation and maintenance of such spaces in 12 patients with mucogingival recession defects. The membranes were judged according to their ease of handling and placement and the regenerative results; the patients were evaluated for gingival recession and the quantity of attached gingiva before and for as long as 15 months after treatment. At 15 months, the average gingival recession was 1.4 mm (pretreatment = 5.3 mm), and the attached gingiva measured 3.3 mm (pretreatment = 1.4 mm). Titanium-reinforced ePTFE membranes result in a simpler, faster, and more predictable surgical procedure. Comparison of titanium-reinforced ePTFE membranes to other available procedures awaits assessment in clinical trials.