Gingival Recession: Study and Treatment Options

Gingival recession is a common finding in daily clinical practice. Several issues may be associated with the apical shift of the gingival margin such as dentine hypersensitivity, root caries, non-carious cervical lesions (NCCLs), and compromised aesthetics.

However, the first step in an effective management and prevention program is to identify susceptibility factors and modifiable conditions associated with gingival recession, describes a recent study.

Researchers, Jean-Claude Imber and Adrian Kasaj from the Department of Periodontology and Operative Dentistry, University of Mainz, Mainz, Germany and Department of Periodontology, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland respectively carried out the present study to discuss the treatment options of gingival recession.

The study is published in the International Dental Journal.

According to the authors, when developing a treatment strategy, clinicians should first focus on susceptibility factors and modifiable conditions while increasing the patient's awareness about gingival recession.

Non-Surgical Treatment Options

• Establishment of optimal plaque control
• Removal of overhanging subgingival restorations
• Behaviour change interventions
• Use of desensitising agents

Surgical Treatment Options

In cases where a surgical approach is indicated, coronally advanced flap and tunnelling procedures combined with a connective tissue graft are considered the most predictable treatment options for single and multiple recession defects.

However, if there is a contraindication for harvesting a connective tissue graft from the palate or the patient wants to avoid a donor site surgery, adjunctive use of acellular dermal matrices, collagen matrices, and/or enamel matrix derivatives can be a valuable treatment alternative.

Combined Restorative-Surgical Approach

For gingival recession defects associated with NCCLs, a combined restorative-surgical approach can provide favourable clinical outcomes.

Preventive Measures

Furthermore, if a patient refuses a surgical intervention or there are other contraindications for an invasive approach, gingival conditions should be maintained with preventive measures.

Therefore, the authors concluded that "in cases where a surgical approach is indicated, coronally advanced flap (CAF) and tunnelling procedures combined with a connective tissue graft (CTG) are considered the most predictable treatment options for single and multiple recession defects. If there is a contraindication for harvesting a CTG from the palate or the patient wants to avoid a donor site surgery, adjunctive use of ACDM, CM and/or EMD can be a valuable treatment alternative."