The effect of coronally advanced flap in root coverage of Miller class 1 recessions in single rooted teeth

Abstract Background: Gingival recession has a high prevalence. Tooth sensitivity and esthetic problem are two complications of gingival recessions. Objective: This study was designed to evaluate the clinical outcome following treatment of localized gingival recessions using coronally advanced flaps (CAF). Methods: Seven consecutively patients in Shahid Beheshty faculty of dentistry (2002) with buccal Class I Miller gingival recession having high level of oral hygiene, were included in this study. Blind calibrated evaluation, provided 20 sites in single-rooted teeth. Clinical measurements including recession height (RH), clinical attachment level (CAL), height of keratinized gingiva (KG) and probing depth (PD) were taken by means of Williams probe, Caliper and acrylic stent. During surgical procedures, CAF was similarly carried out in all of teeth. Clinical measurements were repeated fallowing 3 month post-surgery and areas of covered roots were calculated with AutoCad software by means of 5 points of each root. Findings: CAF resulted in a significant decrease in recession depth (2.39 ±0/82m,60.8% and recession width (2/1±2 mm , 43/7% ,P<0.002) and gain in CAL(2.63 ± 0.9, P<0.001). Area of covered root was 10.44±7.04mm in CAF (p<0.01) after the 3-month evaluation. PD and KG changes were small and not significant. Using CAF 55% of roots of the teeth were covered by more than 12.5 mm2 (two-third of highest value). Conclusion: The CAF operation offers a predictable, simple and convenient approach to root coverage procedure in Miller Class I recession defects.