Root Coverage Using Acellular Dermal Matrix and Comparing a Coronally Positioned Tunnel With and Without Platelet‐Rich Plasma: A Pilot Study in Humans

Abstract

Background: The primary aim of this randomized, controlled, blinded clinical pilot study was to compare the percentage of recession defect coverage obtained with a coronally positioned tunnel (CPT) plus an acellular dermal matrix allograft (ADM) to that of a CPT plus ADM and platelet‐rich plasma (CPT/PRP) 4 months post‐surgically. Methods: Eighteen patients with Miller Class I or II recession ≥3 mm at one site were treated and followed for 4 months. Nine patients received a CPT plus ADM and were considered the positive control group. The test group consisted of nine patients treated with a CPT plus ADM and PRP. Patients were randomly selected by a coin toss to receive the test or positive control treatment. Results: The mean recession at the initial examination for the CPT group was 3.6 ± 1.0 mm, which was reduced to 1.0 ± 1.0 mm at the 4‐month examination for a gain of 2.6 ± 1.5 mm or 70% defect coverage ( P <0.05). The mean recession at the initial examination for the CPT/PRP group was 3.3 ± 0.7 mm, which was reduced to 0.4 ± 0.7 mm at the 4‐month examination for a gain of 2.9 ± 0.5 mm or 90% defect coverage ( P <0.05). There were no statistically significant differences between the groups ( P >0.05). Conclusions: The CPT plus ADM and PRP produced defect coverage of 90%, whereas the CPT with ADM produced only 70% defect coverage. This difference was not statistically significant, but it may be clinically significant.