Advanced Platelet-Rich Fibrin (A-PRF) Associated with the Tunneling Technique in the Treatment of Cairo Type 1 Gingival Recessions: Randomized and Blinded Clinical Study

The use of advanced platelet-rich fibrin (A- PRF) has presented good results in periodontal plastic surgery for treatment of gingival recessions. The present study aims at assessing the effectiveness of the use of A-PRF in root coverage and periodontal clinical parameters of patients with Cairo Type 1 gingival recession. Forty four (44) bilateral Cairo Type 1 gingival recessions were selected. The recessions were split in two groups according to the surgical procedure made (n=44): SCTG: Subepithelial Connective Tissue Graft and A-PRF, using tunnel surgical technique in both sides. The patients were monitored on 0, 90, and 180 days for assessment of the recession height and width; probing depth and bleeding on probing; clinical attachment level; keratinized tissue band width; thickness of keratinized gingival tissue and sensitivity level. The data obtained were initially analyzed and assessed with SHAPIRO-WILK test for normality and later ANOVA and TUKEY tests were used for normal data, or KRUSKALL-WALLIS and DUNN test for non-normal data. For analysis of sensitivity parameter, the test chosen was KRUSKALL-WALLIS and DUNN, with 5% significance level. In the analysis across groups the Student’s t-test was conducted. Both groups presented improvement in periodontal parameters, however without significant statistical difference between them, which suggests that A-PRF can be an alternative to SCTG in root coverage surgeries of Cairo type 1 recession.