Non-Pedicled Buccal Fat Pad Grafts to Treatment for Class I and II Gingival Recessions: A Clinical Trial.

The aim of this study was to analyze the transplant efficiency of non-pedicled buccal fat pad graft (BFPG) for the treatment of Miller Class I or II gingival recessions (GRs) and to compare these results with those of subepithelial connective tissue graft (SCTG), which is considered the gold standard. Twelve patients with Miller Class I or II (≥2 mm) bilateral recessions in maxillary premolars or canines were selected. Recessions were randomly assigned to receive SCTG or BFPG. The clinical parameters evaluated at baseline and at 1, 3, and 6 months postoperatively included gingival index, plaque index, probing depth, GR, clinical attachment level, width of keratinized tissue, thickness of keratinized tissue and gingival margin to the acrylic guide. None of the evaluated clinical parameters differed significantly between the groups. At all evaluated postoperative time-points, both groups exhibited statistically significant differences in GR and gingival margin to the acrylic guide compared to baseline. Six months after surgery, the mean percentages of root coverage were 67.5% and 87.5% in the BFPG and SCTG groups respectively. In both groups, complete root coverage was observed in 50% of cases 6 months after surgery. The results presented herein indicate that the use of BFPG transplant has clinical similarities with SCTG and both may be considered as clinically successful methods for treating Miller Class I and II GRs.

Effect of the diameter on Cu-Al post retention.

This study compared the resistance to removal by traction of abraded cylindrical metal cast posts of Cu-Al (Goldent-LA). The posts had constant length (9 mm) and three different diameters (0.9, 1.3 and 1.7 mm), and were cemented with zinc phosphate cement. The crowns of 36 sound maxillary canines were sectioned, the roots were immersed in resin blocks and the root canals were endodontically treated. The teeth were divided into three groups to be prepared and standardized with the use of a parallelometer with the following burs: Group 1 Largo n. 2; Group 2--Largo n. 4; Group 3--Largo n. 6. The posts were molded with chemically activated resin and after casting they were abraded and their dimensions were confirmed with a digital caliper. After cementation of the posts in the prepared root canals, the samples were kept at 37 degrees C in distilled water for 7 days and subsequently submitted to the traction test in a universal testing machine (Instron 4444). The results showed no statistical difference between the groups. Diameter variation (0.9 mm, 1.3 mm and 1.7 mm) in abraded cylindrical posts cemented with zinc phosphate did not affect resistance to removal.