Platelet rich fibrin in combination with bioabsorbable guided tissue regeneration (GTR) membrane and GTR membrane alone using double lateral sliding bridge flap for treatment of multiple gingival recession defects in humans: A randomized controlled clinical trail

BACKGROUND: Marginal tissue recession is a frequent clinical scenario that creates substantial compromise in esthetic appearance of the patient. The current randomized, double-blind interventional trial aims to evaluate the effectiveness of the combination of “platelet rich fibrin (PRF)” membrane with bioresorbable guided tissue regeneration (GTR) membrane as compared to GTR membrane alone utilizing “double lateral sliding bridge flap (DLSBF) technique” for the management of simultaneous GR defects in human subjects. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty subjects were randomly allotted in two groups: Group 1 (test): 10 subjects treated with PRF + GTR membrane using DLSBF technique and Group 2 (control): 10 subjects treated with GTR membrane alone using DLSBF technique. Clinical measurements such as relative gingival marginal level, “relative clinical attachment level (R-CAL),” “probing pocket depth (PPD),” “gingival recession (GR),” and “width of keratinized gingiva (WKG) and gingival thickness (GT)” were evaluated at the initiation of the study and 6 months thereafter. RESULTS: Two groups showed statistically significant differences with respect to probing depth reduction, CAL gain, and increase in WKG and GT. No significant result was observed with mean root coverage (RC) and complete RC for test (84.80% ± 19.53% and 54.99% ± 38.53%) and control group (75.69% ± 18.86% and 35.83% ± 39.29%), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The combination of PRF membrane used along with GTR membrane provides no additional benefits over GTR membrane alone. However, the DLSBF technique convincingly shows simultaneous elimination of multiple problems associated with GR, shallow vestibule, hypersensitivity, and aberrant frenum pull in a single stage with meticulous performance.