Background: Various periodontal plastic procedures are available for treatment of localized gingival recessions. However, in the mirage of newer techniques and materials available, it is difficult for clinicians to decide on the treatment modality. Pioneering techniques provide a cost effective and effective means of maintaining esthetics in recession cases.
Materials and methods: Twenty-two subjects with localized gingival recessions were divided in equal groups and treated with lateral pedicle graft (Group A) and Free mucosal graft (Group B). Clinical parameters of length and width of recession and apico coronal length of keratinized gingiva (ACKG) was measured at baseline, 30 and 90 days. Root coverage percentage was calculated.
Results: Both groups were effective in recession coverage and gain in ACKG. Root coverage gained in Group A was 65.0 ± 25.2% and for Group B was 61.6 ± 20.5%.
Conclusion: Lateral pedicle graft and Free mucosal graft provide not only effective means of gaining in root coverage of localized gingival recession cases but also result in gain of ACKG. These techniques remain an important part of periodontal plastic surgery.
Keywords: Free mucosal graft; Gingival recession; Lateral pedicle graft.