Thesis & Dissertations

The aim of this study was to evaluate clinically in terms of root coverage a modification of the original Coronally Advanced Flap procedure (CAF) for root coverage where Partial thickness flap elevation was carried throughout all of the proposed procedure instead of full thickness flap elevation. Materials and Methods: This study was performed as a randomized controlled clinical study; split mouth design. Ten patients having bilateral maxillary class I or II Miller classification of gingival recession on the premolar area were randomly treated by either the original full thickness Coronally Advanced Flap procedure or the Modified Partial thickness flap procedure on each site. The percentage of root coverage achieved, Probing Depth (PD), Clinical Attachment level (CAL), gingival tissue thickness (GT), recession depth (RD), recession width (RW),width of keratinized tissue (WKT) and wound healing index(WHI) were recorded and analyzed over 3 and 6 months follow up period. Results: Statistical significance favoring the control site was present between the test and control sites in terms of percentage of root coverage achieved, CAL, RD and RW reduction also favored the control site. The gain in WKT was also in favor of the control site. Pocket depth reduction and increase of GT were only statistically significant at the control site. Conclusion: The modified approach offers a less predictable outcome regarding percentage of root coverage, reduction in PD, CAL, RD and RW and increase in WKT and GT. However In both sites a positive correlation exists between initial gingival thickness and percentage root coverage achieved. Key Words: Recession, Coronally advanced flap, partial thickness, full thickness, gingival thickness, root coverage.