The effects of vertically coronally advanced flap and free gingival graft techniques on shallow vestibule: a randomized comparative prospective trial.

Objectives: The present study aimed to compare the influence of vertically coronally advanced flap (V-CAF) and free gingival graft (FGG) techniques on shallow vestibule depth (VD).

Materials And Methods: Parallel-arm randomized clinical trial was conducted on 38 sites treated with either FGG or V-CAF. Periodontal variables (VD, recession depth and width, probing depth, clinical attachment level, keratinized tissue height (KTH), and tissue thickness (TT)), clinician- and patient-based subjective variables were assessed.

Results: All periodontal variables showed significant improvements in both groups at all follow-up intervals compared to baseline (p < 0.05). Both groups increased VD compared to baseline. RC and CRC were similar after treatment for both techniques. FGG provided a greater increase in KTH (p < 0.001) and VD (VD1, p = 0.02 and VD2, p < 0.001) while V-CAF exhibited more TT gain (p = 0.002). Except overall tissue appearance that was better in V-CAF (p < 0.001), no inter-group significant difference existed in patient-based variables.

Conclusions: Both techniques were significantly effective in VD increasing. While both techniques were equally successful in RC, V-CAF provided higher TT gain and better tissue appearance. V-CAF can be chosen instead of FGG in the treatment of recessions with shallow VD.

Clinical Relevance: It can be recommended to prefer V-CAF instead of FGG in the treatment of shallow vestibule.

Trial Registration Number: NCT05777811 (clinicaltrials.gov).