Treatment of Gingival Recession with Hypersensitivity Using Free Soft-Tissue Graft Procedures

Abstract

Introduction: The main goal of root coverage procedure is complete coverage of the recession defect with good esthetic results related to the adjacent soft tissues and minimal probing depth after the healing process. Aim: The aim of this study was to compare the efficiency of surgical and nonsurgical treatment options in patients with gingival recession and dentin hypersensitivity. Materials and methods: Sixty patients with gingival recession Miller Class I and II with hypersensitivity and esthetic concerns were included. Of these, 30 patients were treated with free soft-tissue graft procedures and 30 people as controls were treated with anti-hypersensitivity gel. The surgically treated patients were allocated into two groups: 20 of them with coronally advanced flap with subepithelial connective tissue graft and 10 with free gingival graft. Results: We achieved full coverage on the exposed root surfaces in 19 patients treated with coronally advanced flap and de-epithelized graft and partial root coverage in one of them. Patients treated with free gingival graft procedure achieved full root coverage in 7 of them and partial in 3 of them (gingival recession = 1 mm after surgery). The surgical treatment allowed resolution of the esthetic issues of patients and elimination or reduction of the dentin hypersensitivity. In the control group, there was partial elimination of root sensitivity. Conclusions: In the surgically treated group with both techniques, we achieved resolution of dentin hypersensitivity and coverage of the root surface with healthy keratinized tissues. These techniques can be considered as treatment options for dentin hypersensitivity depending on the indications.