THE USE OF A RESORBABLE MEMBRANE IN MUCOGINGIVAL SURGERY - CASE SERIES

A SURGICAL TECHNIQUE INVOLVING a resorbable membrane was used to treat 3 to 7 mm localized human buccal recessions on 10 consecutive patient s. The exposed root surface was scaled and a trapezoidal mucoperiostea l flap was elevated after de-epithelization of the papillae. The space between the root and the membrane was created using a bur to form a c oncavity on the root and by bending the membrane with a suture. The fl ap was positioned as coronally as possible covering the membrane. The sutures were removed 15 days postsurgery and tetracycline therapy pres cribed for 10 days. The results were evaluated at 12 months. The surgi cal procedure resulted in a significant reduction in recession (2.9 mm +/- 1.3) as well as a gain in attachment (3.4 mm +/- 2.1). Calculatio n of mean root coverage was 59.6%. There was no significant change of the keratinized tissue width. For therapeutic reasons, re-entry was pe rformed in 2 cases: newly formed tissue was observed on the previously exposed roots. Guided tissue regeneration using a resorbable membrane appears to provide good results in cases of localized buccal recessio n.