V-Reverse Suture Technique Compared to Traditional Anchored Sling Suture in Treating Multiple Gingival Recession

This split-moth pilot study is designed to assess the comparative effectiveness of V-reverse suturing technique(test) and anchored sling suturing technique (Control) in patients with bilateral multiple adjacent gingival recession. The primary aim of the study is to compare the test and control groups in terms of the obtained mean root coverage (mRC) and Root coverage esthetic score (RES) in 3 months. The secondary aims are to compare the two groups in terms of Complete root coverage (CRC), Keratinized tissue width (KTW), Gingival thickness (GT), Recession depth (REC), Probing depth (PD), and Patient-reported outcomes and satisfaction.

At surgery day (T0) baseline measurements and photographs will be taken for all participants and they will be treated with coronally advanced tunnel with autogenous connective tissue graft harvested from the palate for both sides. Each side will be randomly allocated for either V-reverse suturing technique (test) or anchored sling suturing technique (control) to advance the tunnel coronally. At the end of the surgery postoperative instructions will be delivered to all patients in a written and oral manner, in conjunction with a medical prescription, and post-operative questionnaire to fill for the next 14 days to capture patient-reported experience measures (PREMs).

Participants will be re-evaluated at 1 week and at 2 weeks sutures will be removed.

At (T1) 1 month after surgery the following parameters will be recorded : bleeding on probing (BOP), plaque index (PI), and recession depth.

At (T2) 3 month after surgery the following parameters will be recorded : bleeding on probing (BOP), plaque index (PI), recession depth, probing depth (PD), clinical attachment loss (CAL), gingival thickness (GT), keratinized tissue width (KTW), Root coverage esthetic score (RES), mean root coverage% (mRC%), and complete root coverage(cRC "YES/NO")..

Visual analog scale from 0 - 10 (10- very dissatisfied, 0- very satisfied) at each visit after surgery was taken to assess patients overall satisfaction, and another visual analog scale from 0 - 10 (10- worst pain, 0- no pain) to assess patients perceptions of pain.

Photographs will be taken at each visit, all indices will be recorded by a calibrated examiner, and oral hygiene instructions will be reinforced at each visit.

The trial will be conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki (2013) and Good Clinical Practice (GCP) guidelines. Approval has been granted by the Institutional Review Board (IRB) of Jordan University of Science and Technology. Written informed consent will be obtained from all participants prior to enrollment. Adverse events will be documented, monitored, and reported according to IRB requirements.

Inclusion criteria

• Age ≥ 18 years
• Periodontally and systemically healthy;
• Good plaque control (FMPS < 20%)
• Presence of two quadrants exhibiting multiple (2 or more sites) adjacent RT1 or RT2 gingival recession ≥ 2 mm in at least one site.
• Non-smoker.

Exclusion criteria

• Smoking
• Pregnant or lactating women;
• Untreated periodontitis;
• Systemic disorders with compromised healing potential;
• Use of medications (immuno-suppressants, phenytoin, or anything else that might affect soft tissue healing);
• Undergoing radiotherapy;
• History of mucogingival surgery.
• Presence of severe tooth malposition, rotation, or super-eruption.
• Presence of root caries or inadequate prosthetic restorations;
• Persistence of uncorrected gingival trauma from toothbrushing.