Three-year follow-up of the additive effect of concentrated growth factor to the coronally advanced flap in Miller’s class I and class II recession defects: A randomized controlled clinical trial

BACKGROUND: The fundamental goals of traditional periodontal therapy have been the eradication of disease and the preservation of a healthy, functional dentition and its supporting tissues. However, in recent years, the emphasis has shifted increasingly toward esthetic outcomes, extending beyond dental prostheses and tooth color to encompass the soft tissues surrounding the dentition. OBJECTIVES: The main aim of this research was to compare the impact of the coronally advanced flap (CAF) in combination with concentrated growth factor (CGF) with that of CAF alone in the management of gingival recession. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This randomized controlled trial (RCT) included 90 patients with Miller's class I or class II gingival recession, who were categorized into 2 groups: CAF; and CAF with CGF. Follow-up assessments were conducted at 6 months, 1 year and 3 years. Periodontal clinical parameters, along with buccal recession depth (BRD) and the width of attached gingiva (AGW), were measured. Postoperative pain was assessed using a visual analog scale (VAS) 10 days after the intervention in both groups. Statistical analysis was performed using IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, v. 23. RESULTS: The CAF+CGF group showed better results in terms of mean BRD, AGW and clinical attachment level (CAL), as well as reduced postoperative pain (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: With a 3-year long-term follow-up, the present trial supports the additive effect of CGF in combination with CAF for maxillary gingival augmentation coronal to the recession.