The influence of tooth location on the outcomes of multiple adjacent gingival recessions treated with coronally advanced flap : A multicenter re-analysis study

BACKGROUND: Tooth location has been shown to play a significant role on root coverage outcomes. However, whether this has an impact on the outcomes of coronally advanced flap (CAF) for treating multiple adjacent gingival recessions (MAGRs) remains to be determined. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of tooth location, flap design, and flap extension on the outcomes of MAGRs following CAF with or without a connective tissue graft (CTG). METHODS: A re-analysis of six previously published clinical trials evaluating the outcomes of CAF in the treatment of MAGRs was performed using mixed regression and logistics to assess the influence of potentially influential factors on the treatment outcomes. RESULTS: Six hundred and nine MAGRs in 166 patients were evaluated. The anterior maxilla (second sextant) was associated to the highest mean root coverage (mRC) and complete root coverage (CRC) outcome (P < 0.05). In addition, the maxillary teeth showed significantly greater mRC and CRC than teeth in the mandible (with the lower anterior [fifth sextant] showing the lowest outcomes) (P < 0.05). A higher mRC was observed for the anterior teeth compared with posterior dentition (P < 0.05). While CAF + CTG achieved better results than CAF alone, no differences were found when the flap was performed with or without vertical releasing incisions (P > 0.05). Lastly, teeth in the distal part of the flap showed lower mRC and CRC than teeth in the central or mesial position (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Tooth location was found to play a key role in determining the amount of root coverage achievable, with maxillary canines and incisors being associated with the highest outcomes compared with other sextants. Maxillary MAGRs showed greater mRC and CRC than mandibular MAGRs.