Clinical and patient‐centered outcomes using two types of subepithelial connective tissue grafts: A split‐mouth randomized clinical trial

Abstract Background This split‐mouth randomized clinical trial compared two different types of subepithelial connective tissue grafts (SCTG) considering clinical parameters and patient‐centered outcomes in patients with bilateral recession type 1 multiple gingival recessions after 6 months postoperatively. Methods A total of 21 patients were surgically treated with coronally advanced flap (CAF) associated with SCTG harvested by: double blade scalpel (DBS) and de‐epithelialized (DE) SCTG. Periodontal clinical parameters and esthetics were evaluated by a calibrated periodontist at baseline and after 6 months. Patient‐centered outcomes related to pain/discomfort and esthetics were assessed with visual analogue scale after 7 days and 6 months, respectively. Results All clinical parameters, with the exception of probing depth, demonstrated differences in intragroup evaluation, comparing baseline to 6‐month evaluation ( P <0.05). Both groups presented reduction of recession depth and recession width and gain of keratinized tissue thickness, keratinized tissue width, and clinical attachment level ( P <0.05). Intergroup comparison (DBS × DE) demonstrated no significant differences considering clinical parameters and periods. Both techniques improved esthetics evaluated by patients, without a difference between groups in patients and professional analysis. However, DBS group presented inferior pain/discomfort compared with DE ( P <0.05). Conclusion DBS and DE associated with CAF presented satisfactory clinical outcomes. However, DBS presented inferior morbidity, an important fact for decision‐making process.