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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

Status
Completed
Phases
Unknown
Study type
Observational
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT04016493
Enrollment
40
Registered
2019-07-11
Start date
2013-01-31
Completion date
2019-01-31
Last updated
2019-07-11

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Recession, Gingival

Brief summary

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.

Interventions

PROCEDUREConnective tissue graft

The patient received 600 mg of ibuprofen (paracetamol 1 g in case of allergy) prior to surgery, and chlorhexidine mouthwash 0.2% was provided for 2 min. Patients received local anaesthesia at the donor and recession sites (articaine hydrochloride 7200 mg/1.8 ml, adrenalin 1800 mcg/1.8 ml). CTG harvesting was performed prior to the preparation of the reception site to avoid any bias. The graft dimension was calculated according to the recession dimensions; a minimum of 3 mm of the graft was submerged mesially, distally and apically. The CTG was harvested from the palate with single edge incision and sutured with 4.0 silk. The patient was subsequently assigned randomly to the control (CAF+CTG) or the test group (TUN+CTG).

Sponsors

University of Liege
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Observational model
OTHER
Time perspective
PROSPECTIVE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL

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.

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
PES Assessment changeBaseline, 6 months and 4 yearsThe PES was assessed according to the seven parameters described by Fürhauser (Fürhauser et al., 2005).
Plaque Index Changebaseline, 6 months and 4 yearsThe plaque accumulation is assessed at baseline, 6 months and 4 years follow-up visits using a 0-1 scoring system, 0 being the the highest value, 1 being the lowest result (0 =No detectible plaque ; 1 = Plaque can be seen by the naked eye)
Bleeding on probing score changebaseline, 6 months and 4 yearsThe bleeding tendency is assessed at baseline, 6 months and 4 years follow-up visits as : 0 No bleeding when a periodontal probe is passed along the gingival margin adjacent to the implant; 1 Isolated bleeding spots visible ; 2 Blood forms a confluent red line on the margin; 3 Heavy or profuse bleeding.
Recession width changebaseline, 6 months and 4 yearsThe status of the recession width was recorded at baseline, 6 months and 4 years follow-up visits. The scale is in mm. More large is it, worst it is Minest large it is, best it is
Gingival thickness changebaseline, 6 months and 4 yearsThe gingival thickness was recorded at baseline, 6 months and 4 years follow-up visits. The scale is in mm. More thick is it, best it is Minest thick it is, worst it is
Keratinised mucosa height changebaseline, 6 months and 4 yearsThe status of the keratinised mucosa height was recorded at baseline, 6 months and 4 years follow-up visits. The scale is in mm. More large is it, best it is Minest large it is, worst it is
Mean Root Coverage changeat 6 months and 4 years.The status of the Mean Root Coverage was recorded at 6 months and 4 years follow-up visits. The scale is in mm. More long it is, best it is Minest long it is, worst it is

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Patient-related esthetic outcomes4 years(Fürhauser et al., 2005). Patient-related esthetic outcomes were also recorded in a questionnaire using a 0-14 graduated scale (0 being the worst and 14 the best value).

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026