ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: The goal of this article was to introduce a new root coverage (RC) technique, the mixed-thickness tunnel access (MiTT) technique, which approaches a full-split design and intends to augment soft tissues coronal to the gingival margin. It was shown step-by-step, and the results were presented in a case series. METHODS: Healthy individuals (non-diabetics) and non-smokers with gingival recession (GR) type 1 or 2 (RT1 or RT2) were included. After evaluation, prophylaxis was performed 14 days before the surgical procedure. During the surgical appointment, one or two vertical incision(s) on the mucosa (around 1-2 mm apical to the MGJ), lateral to the papilla base, was/were performed after anesthesia. Initially, there was a partial incision to detach the mucosa of the muscles (split design). It was permitted (but not mandatory) to perform intrasulcular incisions. Through the vertical incision, internally, subperiosteal access from the MGJ toward the gingival margin (coronally) was performed to create a full-thickness tunnel. Then, communication from the vertical incision with the gingival sulcus and the papilla base occurred, keeping the papilla tip intact. A connective tissue graft was harvested and inserted through the linear incision or intrasulcularly. There were interrupted sutures. An adjunctive material may be applied (e.g., Endogain). The root coverage was measured using a periodontal probe and considered fully covered when the gingival margin was 1 mm coronal to the cementum-enamel junction (CEJ). RESULTS: Nine healthy individuals (seven females and two males) aged 19 and 43 were enrolled. They were treated following the MiTT steps. Four cases had a single GR; two patients had two teeth involved; and three others had three or four GR. There were seven cases of RT1 and two RT2. All RT1 cases achieved 100% RC, while the mean RC obtained for RT2 was around 80%. CONCLUSION: The MiTT technique can be considered a more straightforward approach for minimally invasive surgical techniques, which is a feasible option to treat RC with a high success rate, predictability, and esthetic preservation. Therefore, there is a technical sensitivity to performing the full-split design procedure.
ABSTRACT
Purpose: Within this context, this pilot study aimed to evaluate the healing dynamics process of the hard palate after free gingival graft harvesting in the short term (3 months), utilizing digital imaging technology and tridimensional analysis software. Furthermore, assessing the results found to verify the existence of a relationship between gender or age with tissue loss. Materials and Methods: For connective-tissue harvesting, fifteen patients with gingival recessions type (RT) 1 and RT2 were selected. On the surgery day (before the procedure) and after three months, palatal impressions were taken in all patients, and cast models were done for posterior model scanning. The following variables were analyzed: mean thickness alterations (x¯ TA), maximum thickness loss (MTL), mean maximum thickness loss (x¯ MTL), and volume alterations (VA). A descriptive and bivariate analysis of the data was done. The data were submitted for statistical evaluation and were significant if p < 0.05. Results: Fifteen patients were analyzed, 11 females (73.3%) and four males (26.7%). The patients' average age was 28 ± 8.52 years (ranging between 16 and 48 years old). The palatal wound region's mean thickness and volume changes were −0.26 mm (±0.31) and 46.99 mm3 (±47.47 mm3) at three months. There was no statistically significant result correlating age/gender with any variable evaluated. Conclusions: Connective tissue graft harvesting promoted changes with a standard volume and thickness loss of palatal soft tissue. A 3D digital evaluation was a non-invasive method with a reproducible technique for measuring thickness or volume after connective tissue is collected. There was no relationship between age/gender and any variables analyzed.
ABSTRACT
Predictable outcomes intended by the application of PRF (platelet-rich fibrin) derivative membranes have created a lack of consideration for their consistency and functional integrity. This study aimed to compare the mechanical properties through tensile strength and analyze the structural organization among the membranes produced by L-PRF (leukocyte platelet-rich fibrin), A-PRF (advanced platelet-rich fibrin), and A-PRF+ (advanced platelet-rich fibrin plus) (original protocols) that varied in centrifugation speed and time. L-PRF (n = 12), A-PRF (n = 19), and A-PRF+ (n = 13) membranes were submitted to a traction test, evaluating the maximum and average traction. For maximum traction, 0.0020, 0.0022, and 0.0010 N·mm−2 were obtained for A-PRF, A-PRF+, and L-PRF, respectively; regarding the average resistance to traction, 0.0012, 0.0015, and 0.006 N·mm−2 were obtained, respectively (A-PRF+ > A-PRF > L-PRF). For all groups studied, significant results were found. In the surface morphology observations through SEM, the L-PRF matrix showed a highly compact surface with thick fibers present within interfibrous areas with the apparent destruction of red blood cells and leukocytes. The A-PRF protocol showed a dense matrix composed of thin and elongated fibers that seemed to follow a preferential and orientated direction in which the platelets were well-adhered. Porosity was also evident with a large diameter of the interfibrous spaces whereas A-PRF+ was the most porous platelet concentrate with the greatest fiber abundance and cell preservation. Thus, this study concluded that A-PRF+ produced membranes with significant and higher maximum traction results, indicating a better viscoelastic strength when stretched by two opposing forces.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Autologous platelet concentrate (APC)/platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) of second and third generations has increased use in periodontics to optimize wound healing. Few systematic reviews (SRs) have reported improved clinical outcomes, while other studies reported significantly better results for the connective tissue graft (CTG). There is still unclear clinical evidence about APC/PRF use to treat gingival recession (GR) defects. Then, the purpose of this SR was to evaluate the use of APC/PRF membranes (2nd and 3rd generations) in root coverage (RC) procedures and assess its efficacy as a substitute biomaterial. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An electronic search was conducted in PubMed, Cochrane Central, Web of Science, Google Scholar, BookSC databases, and gray literature. The search strategy, without date restriction up to April 2020, included keywords as "platelet-rich fibrin," "autologous platelet concentrates," "blood," "systematic review," "periodontics," "surgery," "tissue," "gingiva," "gingival recession," "connective tissue," "graft," and "root coverage." The methodological quality was evaluated through the AMSTAR2, and a population, index test, comparator, outcome strategy was used to assess specific clinical parameters such as recession depth, clinical attachment levels, and RC outcomes. RESULTS: Nine SRs were included. Only three articles described the technique of APC/PRF production. Three studies reported unfavorable outcomes using APC, while six reported favorable results and postoperative discomfort reduction. Articles included in this SRs that provided information about APC/PRF membranes (n = 13) showed no significant difference between APC/PRF and the control group for the parameters analyzed. CONCLUSIONS: This implies that APC/PRF may be considered a feasible substitute biomaterial for treating GR defects, although the CTG still provides superior outcomes. Further long-term and controlled studies are needed to verify this finding.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Since the leucocyte-platelet rich fibrin (L-PRF) was published in 2001, many studies have been developed, analyzing its properties, and also verifying new possibilities to improve it. Thereby, it emerges the advanced-platelet rich fibrin (A-PRF) with a protocol that optimizes the properties obtained by the L-PRF. Nonetheless, there is a gap in the literature to landmark the evolutive process concerning the mechanical properties in specific the resistance to tensile strength which consequently may influence the time for membrane degradation. Thus, this study had the goal to compare the resistance to the traction of membranes produced with the original L-PRF and A-PRF protocols, being the first to this direct comparison. FINDINGS: The harvest of blood from a healthy single person, with no history of anticoagulant usage. We performed the protocols described in the literature, within a total of 13 membranes produced for each protocol (n = 26). Afterward, the membranes were prepared and submitted to a traction test assessing the maximal and the average traction achieved for each membrane. The data were analyzed statistically using the unpaired t test. Regarding average traction, A-PRF obtained a value of 0.0288 N mm-2 and L-PRF 0.0192 N mm-2 (p < 0.05 using unpaired t test). For maximal traction, A-PRF obtained 0.0752 N mm-2 and L-PRF 0.0425 N mm-2 (p < 0.05 using unpaired t test). CONCLUSION: With this study, it was possible to conclude that indeed A-PRF has a significative higher maximal traction score and higher average traction compared to L-PRF, indicating that it had a higher resistance when two opposing forces are applied.