Digital assessment of marginal gingival thickness after grafting with subepithelial connective tissue graft versus laser deepithelialized gingival graft in multiple RT2 gingival recession: a split-mouth randomized clinical trial

Abstract Aim To test two digital methods (volumetric and linear) in comparing marginal gingival thickness (MGT) gain between subepithelial connective tissue graft (SCTG) and laser deepithelialized gingival graft (DGG-L) in RT2 gingival recession using tunneling technique (TUN). Patients and methods Eleven patients with bilateral multiple RT2 were recruited and allocated into two equal groups, A: TUN + SCTG and B: TUN + DGG-L. MGT was measured by volumetric and linear digital methods, mean root coverage was measured linearly, keratinized tissue width, pocket depth, and clinical attachment level were recorded clinically at baseline and at 6 months postoperatively. Pain and patient satisfaction were recorded at 14 days postoperatively. Results There was a statistically significant increase in MGT within each group, DGG-L group 0.18 ± 0.05, 0.28 ± 0.05 and SCTG group 0.25 ± 0.04, 0.32 ± 0.02 between baseline and 6 months, respectively, and no statistically significant difference between the both groups. Mean root coverage showed no statistically significant difference between the two groups 0.3 ± 0.66, 0.2 ± 0.48, respectively. The SCTG group showed a statistically significant lower keratinized tissue width gain compared to DGG-L (P = 0.049, effect size = 0.907). There was a statistically significant decrease in clinical attachment level postoperatively in both groups. Pocket depth, pain, and satisfaction (visual analog scale score) showed a nonstatistical significance between the two groups. Conclusions Volumetric and linear digital methods showed reliability in assessment of MGT. The volumetric method might be more realistic than the linear, as the latter could be subjected to more errors during measurement. DGG-L offers more tissue availability and less technique sensitivity with comparable clinical outcome and patient satisfaction to the standard SCTG.