Influence of Keratinized Tissue Width and Attached Gingiva Width on Root Coverage in Patients With Recession Defects: A Prospective Clinical Study

Recent longitudinal evidence suggests that soft tissue thickness may play a more decisive role in long-term stability than keratinized tissue width (KTW) alone. The baseline keratinized tissue width necessary to achieve stable outcomes remain lacking as the scarcity of cases presenting with minimal or no keratinized tissue width limited the exploration of its influence on achieving complete root coverage in scenarios characterized by extremely reduced or absent keratinized tissue width.

Furthermore, attached gingiva width (AGW) has been insufficiently studied despite its proposed biological relevance in providing functional connective tissue attachment to the underlying hard tissues. In recent randomized controlled trial attached gingiva width was considered along with root coverage percentage as a primary outcome in evaluating collagen matrix (CM) versus connective tissue graft with modified coronally advanced tunnel technique in isolated RT1 cases. A recent study in which anatomical factors affecting root coverage among mandibular incisors were studied and presented limitations such as restricted inclusion of sites, presenting type of recession defects and limited cases with minimal or absent keratinized tissue, thereby limiting its ability to define its absolute indication or minimum requirement for successful root coverage. Collectively, these limitations were particularly related to inclusion of mandibular sites. On perusal of literature revealed there is no prospective study in which baseline keratinized tissue width and attached gingiva width as prognostic factors for root coverage were studied.

Therefore, the aim of this prospective clinical study is to determine if anatomical factors such as keratinized tissue width and attached gingiva width influence recession defects coverage of RT1 recession treated with minimally invasive surgical technique along with connective tissue graft.

Details of Methodology

1. Study design and setting The present clinical trial will be conducted in the department of Periodontics, Post Graduate Institute of Dental Sciences, Rohtak, Haryana. 2. Study period- up to 24 months 3. Study subjects The sample size was calculated using G\*Power software to achieve 80% statistical power for detecting a significant correlation of r = 0.5 using a linear regression model based on the previously conducted prospective study. The analysis indicated that 26 patients were required. To compensate for an anticipated 10% dropout rate, the sample size was increased, resulting in a final required sample size of 30 participants.

e. Method of recruitment The study will recruit systematically healthy patients exhibiting Millers class Ⅰ and Ⅱ or RT1 recession defects in maxillary and mandibular anterior teeth from the periodontology outpatient department.

f. Intervention Scaling and root planing Following selection, all the patients will be subjected to phase I therapy, which included full mouth scaling and root planing using ultrasonic scalers and hand instrumentation.

Surgical procedure Connective Tissue Graft Harvesting (Single Incision Technique) After local anesthesia, a single horizontal incision was made 2 mm from the gingival margin of maxillary premolars using a #15 blade (90° to bone). A partial thickness dissection was performed through the same incision to create an undermined area of required size. The connective tissue graft was then outlined with mesial, distal, and medial incisions, separated, and removed using a periosteal elevator. The donor site was closed with horizontal suspension sutures.

VISTA Technique :

After local anesthesia and root planing, a small vestibular incision was made near the MGJ using a 15C blade. A full-thickness subperiosteal tunnel was created and extended beneath adjacent papillae. An SCTG was inserted through the incision, positioned under the recession area, and the gingivo-papillary complex was coronally advanced and secured with 5-0 polyglactin sutures.

Post operative care Suitable antibiotics and analgesics will be prescribed for 5 days. Chlorhexidine (0.12%) mouthwash for a week. The Coronally attached bonded sutures will be removed after 3 weeks.

Follow up All patients will be recalled for recording of all the clinical parameters at 3and 6 months.