Volume 25 , Issue 2 , December 2023 , Pages 241-247
1 Periodontics Department, College of Dentistry, University of Duhok, Duhok, Kurdistan region, Iraq
Background: Various grafting procedures have been used to convert a thin periodontal
phenotype to a thick phenotype, including free gingival graft. Objective: To evaluate the
effectiveness of the periodontal dressing upon periodontal parameters such as Pocket
depth, width of keratinized gingiva and recession depth during treatment of the Miller
class I, II or III gingival recession of the lower anterior teeth. Materials and Methods:
34 lower anterior teeth with Miller class I, II or III gingival recession were selected and
randomly grouped into two groups. The first group included 19 teeth and was treated
with a single-step free gingival graft procedure with the application of the periodontal
dressing. The second group had 15 teeth and was treated with a single-step free gingival
graft (FGG) procedure without applying the periodontal dressing. Clinical parameters
such as probing depth, the width of keratinized gingiva and recession depth were
recorded before surgery (B0), two weeks (B1) and three months (B2) after surgery.
Results: No significant differences (P0.05) in PD were observed in both groups at
different time intervals and between both groups at two weeks and three months after
surgery. However, a significant reduction (P0.05) in RD in both groups at two weeks
and three months after the surgery was seen. Also, both groups saw a significant
decrease (P0.05) at two weeks and three months after surgery. WKG was significantly
(P0.05) increased at two weeks and three months after the surgery in both groups. The
difference in the increase was highly significant (P0.001) between both groups at 2-
weeks and 3-months after the surgery. Conclusions: The group that used periodontal
dressing at 2-weeks and 3-months after surgery reported greater improvements in root
coverage and increased width of keratinized gingiva compared to those who did not use
periodontal dressing.