30 Jul Gum retraction, Dr. Gonzalo Blasi publishes an article
Gum retraction study
On July 28, Dr. Gonzalo Blasi has collaborated in the publication of a scientific article in the British Journal of Dental Research Clinical and Translational Research. This is a systemic review with meta-analysis where the effectiveness of gum thickness has been evaluated in root covering procedures (in gum retraction treatments).
In this article, Dr. Gonzalo Blasi has collaborated with the Advanced Oral Sciences and Therapeutics department of the prestigious university of American dentistry University of Maryland Baltimore.
TREATMENT OF GUM RETRACTION
Gingival recession has been successfully managed through various surgical approaches, with great variability in results. The anatomical characteristics of the receiving area and the selected technique partly explain this variability. The thickness of the gingival flap is one of the most critical characteristics related to the area.
A total of 42 studies were included in this systematic review (35 randomized controlled trials, 5 case series, 1 prospective cohort study, and 1 controlled clinical trial). In all studies, the percentage of combined root coverage was 81.9%. Root coverage percentage was not significantly associated with soft tissue basal thickness; however, there was a significant inverse relationship between STT and percent coverage after the 12-month follow-up. Subgroup analysis showed that for no graft, there was a significant positive relationship between baseline thickness and percent coverage with the exclusion of one study.
Importance of the published study
Initial gum thickness plays a limited role in predicting root coverage in all approaches. When flaps are performed without grafting, the effect of initial thickness is more critical. The period of time after surgery seems to influence the results, with a 12-month follow-up that offers greater insight.
The results of this study may suggest to dentists which periodontal plastic surgery technique to use when treating difficult cases. In particular, it may be useful in selecting the treatment approach to treat thin phenotype sites. This study could help periodontists to provide a more appropriate treatment decision in such cases.