Subepithelial connective tissue graft used with platelet-rich plasma in treatment of gingival recession

A variety of surgical techniques has been described to cover exposed root surfaces and these procedures were organized into various categories in a consensus report in 1996.1 The subepithelial connective tissue graft (SECTG), as described by Langer and Langer, predictably increased root coverage of Class I and II recession by more than 90%.2

Using platelet-rich plasma (PRP) involves taking a sample of a patient's blood pre-operatively, concentrating autologous platelets and applying the resultant gel to the surgical site. Surgical sites applied with PRP have been shown to heal two to three times faster than normal surgical sites.3 PRP delivers a highly concentrated dose of autologous platelets containing a variety of biologic mediators that can be applied directly to the healing site. It is also believed that the PRP accelerates soft tissue healing by promoting a more rapid revascularization and re-epithelialization of flaps and cell proliferation. In an attempt to increase the success rate of connective tissue grafting, as well as to increase the successful use of tissue regeneration membranes to provide root coverage, incorporation of the platelet-rich plasma into the surgical protocol was advocated.4