Digital Assessment After Grafting With SCTG vs DGG-L in Multiple RT-2 Gingival Recession

Objectives: to compare marginal gingival thickness gain and root coverage (RC) between subepithelial connective tissue graft (SCTG) and laser deepithelialized gingival graft (DGG-L) in RT2 gingival recession (GR) using tunneling technique (TUN).
Methods: 22 patients with multiple RT2 were recruited and randomly allocated into two equal groups, group A: TUN+SCTG and group B: TUN+DGG-L. Marginal gingival thickness and mean root coverage was measured linearly, KTW, PD and CAL were recorded clinically at baseline and at 6 months postoperatively. Pain and patient satisfaction were recorded at 14 days postoperatively.
Results: There was a statistically significant increase in marginal thickness within each group, DGG-L group 0.46 (±0.14) and SCTG group 0.43 (±0.11) between baseline and 6 months respectively. However, there was no statistically significant difference between the both groups. Mean root coverage showed no statistically significant difference between the two groups 0.3(±0.66), 0.2(±0.48) respectively. The SCTG group showed a statistically significant lower KTW gain compared to DGG-L group (P-value = 0.049, Effect size = 0.907). There was a statistically significant decrease in CAL postoperatively in both groups. PD, Pain and satisfaction (VAS score) showed a non-statistical significance between the two tested groups.
Conclusions: DGG-L offers more tissue availability and less technique sensitivity with comparable clinical outcome and patient satisfaction to the standard SCTG. Linear digital methods showed reliability in assessment of marginal tissue thickness and RC in RT2 gingival recession.