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This article describes two different surgical techniques of root coverage using Emdogain
and shows preliminary results on 26 shallow recessions in 14 patients. For the treatment
of 13 recessions, Emdogain was used in combination with a coronally advanced flap
(CAF+EMD group). In the other 13 recessions, Emdogain and the flap were used in combination
with a subepithelial connective tissue graft (CAF+CTG+EMD group). For the
CAF+EMD group, the root coverage at 6 months was 93.97%, with an attachment gain
of 3.2 mm; for the CAF+CTG+EMD group, the root coverage was 93.59%, with an
attachment gain of 3.4 mm (no statistically significant difference between groups). When
complete root coverage was not achieved, the residual recession was 1 mm in four cases
and 2 mm in one case. Keratinized gingiva was increased for both groups, but more for
the CAF+CTG+EMD group (1.38 mm versus 0.69 mm; statistically significant difference).
Clinical attachment level decreased significantly in both groups, from 4.46 to 1.23 mm in
the CAF+EMD group, and from 4.62 to 1.23 mm in the CAF+CTG+EMD group.
Preliminary results show that Emdogain, in combination with CAF or CAF+CTG for the
treatment of Miller Class I or II gingival recessions, displays good clinical results, with
percentage of root coverage comparable or superior to other techniques. Further experimental
studies on the dynamics of wound healing are needed to prove that EMD is really
responsible for improving the percentage of regenerated versus repaired tissues with
respect to other techniques. (Int J Periodontics Restorative Dent 2002;22:583–593.)
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