Long-term Outcomes of Tunnel Technique

Tunnel Versus Coronally Advanced Flap Combined With a Connective Tissue Graft for the Treatment of Gingival Recessions: Long Term (4 Years) Follow-up of a Randomized Controlled Trial

Few studies evaluate the outcomes beyond 1 year follow up for gingival recessions treatments using the tunnel technique in combination with connective tissue graft. The aim of this randomized controlled trial (RCT) was to compare the 4-year outcomes of the CAF versus the pouch/tunnel (TUN) technique both associated with CTG.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Miller's class I recessions;
• Recession of 2 mm to 5 mm;
• Maxillary incisors, canines or premolars;
• Identifiable cementoenamel junction (CEJ);
• Patients minimum 18 years old;
• No/controlled periodontal disease;
• ASA1 or ASA2 (American Society of Anesthesiologists) general health status;
• Providing a signed informed consent form.

Exclusion criteria were:

• Smokers;
• Presence of cervical carious lesion;
• Pocket depth greater than 4 mm;
• Sites where previous muco-gingival therapy was performed;
• Pregnancy.
• In presence of non-carious cervical lesions, the anatomical CEJ was reconstructed by the use of a composite before the procedure.