Treatment of Deep Isolated Gingival Recession Defects Affecting Mandibular Incisors: A Novel Interdisciplinary Orthodontic-Mucogingival Approach

Tooth malposition negatively affects the outcome of root coverage procedures, limiting chances for complete root coverage (CRC). This case series introduces a combined orthodontic-mucogingival approach for the treatment of deep (> 4 mm) isolated gingival recession defects affecting mandibular incisors with a buccally displaced root. Twenty patients were treated with a novel orthodontic device (FZ Root Torque Controller) for selective correction of tooth malposition at the affected site, turning all isolated recessions into Miller Classes I and II. Subsequent surgical treatment of the gingival recession with a vertically-coronally advanced flap plus a connective tissue graft achieved 90% CRC at the 1-year follow-up, with a recession reduction of 5.6 ± 1.5 mm, a 1.24 ± 0.24 mm increase in gingival thickness, and improved esthetic outcomes.