Aim: : The purpose of this trial was to evaluate the outcome of a modification of pin hole surgical technique which consists of a minimally invasive coronally advanced tunnel technique (MI-CAT) with orthodontic buttons and suturing in the treatment of multiple recession type defects.
Materials and methods: Twelve systemically healthy patients (79 sites) aged between 22 - 55 years with Miller's Class I and II multiple recession defects were treated with minimally invasive coronally advanced tunnel technique. Thirty-nine sites were randomly assigned to a control group and the other 40 sites to the test group. In the test group, in addition to the MICAT procedure, buttons and suspensory silk sutures were used for the stabilization of the advanced flap. Clinical parameters were assessed at baseline, 3 weeks, 6 weeks and 6 months after surgery.
Results: A total of 79 recessions were treated. Complete root coverage from baseline to 6 months was 56% in the control group and 73% in the test group. Mean root coverage was 82.4% in the control group and 85.7% in the test group. Root coverage aesthetic scores of 9.3/10 and 9.4/10 were noted in the control and test group respectively.
Conclusion: Six months post-surgical evaluation showed that minimally invasive coronally advanced tunnel technique with orthodontic buttons and suturing was effective and predictable for the treatment of multiple recession type defects. The clinical outcomes were similar to that of the control group with no statistical difference between the two groups.
Keywords: Multiple recession type defects; aesthetics; coronally advanced flap; minimally invasive; root coverage; tunnel technique.
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