Comparative study of Emdogain® and coronally advanced flap technique in the treatment of human gingival recessions. A prospective clinical study

Aim of the study

To compare the efficacy of the coronally advanced flap technique with and without enamel matrix derivatives in the treatment of gingival recession.

Materials and methods

A prospective, longitudinal (12 months), multicentre (2), randomised study involving 37 healthy patients presenting with a symmetrical pair of recessions (3 mm) and treated for reasons of aesthetics or hypersensitivity. The clinical criteria assessed were the reduction of recession, increase in keratinisation, pocket depth and bone level.

Results

At 12 months the root coverage was similar for the two groups (80 % and 79 %). The level of attachment, pocket depth and amount of recession improved similarly with the two techniques. The height of keratinized gingiva was significantly better in the enamel matrix group.

Conclusion

The use of the enamel matrix derivative provided no statistically significant improvement in root coverage when the coronally advanced flap technique was used. Emdogain was of no additional benefit to the surgical technique.

Commentary

The number of patients (37) is more than in many other studies and they are better selected which leaves us to believe that the analysis is more reliable. One notices that in this study, the results obtained by the coronally advanced flap seem to be better than in previous studies. Is there not a major role to be played by the use of EDTA ? Enamel matrix derivatives do not seem to fulfil their expected role on attachment.