Adjunctive benefit of a Xenogenic Collagen Matrix associated with Coronally Advanced Flap...

Roberto Rotundo, Luigi Genzano, Divya Patel, Francesco D'Aiuto, Michele Nieri

Journal of Clinical Periodontology

Receding gums is a common feature of gum disease inflammation (periodontitis) or trauma (incorrect toothbrushing habits). Retraction of gum tissue could have an impact on mouth and facial aesthetics (so-called “long teeth appearance”) but also it is frequently associated with tooth hypersensitivity, in particular, after cold drinks. 

A number of gum surgical procedures have been proposed to recreate the lost gum tissue around teeth. Stretching the existing residual gum tissue with a localised gum surgery, with or without the use of a gum graft (small strip of gum harvested from the roof of the mouth of the same patient) is the most effective treatment to manage gum recession. The collection of a gum graft from the roof of the mouth however is linked to greater discomfort, pain and complications for the patient.

This study aimed to test an alternative technique where instead of a gum graft, we used a collagen matrix of animal origin (pig). This is a safe and biocompatible material with no side effects reported to date.

We enrolled patients with gum recession and randomly allocated them to receive either a conventional gum stretching surgery (coronally advanced flap) alone or in combination with the novel collagen matrix.

Results of the study recorded during the one-year, follow-up period confirmed that the latter approach was effective in creating new and strong gum tissue without the need of taking a gum graft from other sites of the mouth. The measured discomfort during the first week after surgery was very low (score= <1 out of 10) and the level of aesthetic satisfaction at the end of the observational period was very high (score= 9.3 out 10).

We are planning further investigations on new procedures/devices aimed to reconstruct the lost gingival soft tissue after infectious disease or trauma.

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