Treatment of gingival recession: when and how?

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. The first step in an effective management and prevention program is to identify susceptibility factors and modifiable conditions associated with gingival recession. Non‐surgical treatment options for gingival recession defects includ e establishment of optimal plaque control, removal of overhanging subgingival restorations, behaviour change interventions, and use of desensitising agents. 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. 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. For gingival recession defects associated with NCCLs a combined restorative‐surgical approach can provide favourable clinical outcomes. If a patient refuses a surgical intervention or there are other contraindications for an in vasive approach, gingival conditions should be maintained with preventive measures. This paper gives ...
Source: International Dental Journal - Category: Dentistry Authors: Tags: Concise Clinical Review Source Type: research