ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE@#To evaluate the clinical outcomes of vestibular incision subperiosteal tunnel access (VISTA) with connective tissue graft (CTG) in the treatment of Miller classes I and II localized gingival recession.@*METHODS@#Ten patients with 10 Miller classes I and II localized gingival recessions were enrolled in the study. All defects were equal to or above 2 mm in recession depth. All the patients received treatment with VISTA+CTG. Their clinical parameters, including recession depth (Rec), recession width (RW), keratinized tissue width (KT), clinical attachment loss (CAL), probing depth (PD) were recorded and compared before surgery and 6 months later. The mean root coverage (MRC) and complete root coverage (CRC) were calculated at the end of 6 months. A visual analogue scale (VAS) was used to estimate the patients' discomfort during the operation and during the 2 weeks post-operation. Patient-based aesthetic satisfaction 6 months after surgery was evaluated by a VAS.@*RESULTS@#The mean Rec was (2.65±0.82) mm at baseline, and (0.35±0.58) mm after 6 months. The VISTA+CTG treatment resulted in an improvement of (2.30±0.98) mm in recession depth (P<0.001). MRC was 86.67%±21.94% and CRC reached 70% at the end of 6 months. KT increased (0.90±1.22) mm (P<0.05). Aesthetic satisfaction on the patients' level was 8.30 based on VAS (0=unsatisfied, 10=extremely satisfied). The patients' discomfort during the operation and 2 weeks post operation were 2.40 and 4.30 (0=no pain, 10=extreme pain). Furthermore, clinical outcomes showed no statistically significant difference between the gingival biotypes, and between the teeth positioned in maxillary and in mandibular.@*CONCLUSION@#VISTA+CTG could be an effective treatment for Miller classes I and II localized gingival recession. Clinical outcomes indicated decrease in recession depth and width, and increase in width of keratinized tissue. Patients suffered little pain during the operation and 2 weeks post-operation of healing and accessed good aesthetic satisfaction. VISTA+CTG could be an option for the treatment of Miller classes I and II localized gingival recession.