PRF membrane as good as SCTG technique for treating papillary recession defects: Study

Platelet‑rich fibrin (PRF) has emerged as one of the promising regenerative materials in the field of periodontics. It is a second‑generation platelet concentrate having various beneficial properties such as easier preparation, cost-effectiveness, and good patient acceptability. It is enriched with various growth factors, platelets, and cytokines that promote wound healing.

While the use of SCTG for papilla reconstruction depends on the dual blood supply, thus improving the survival of the graft and enhancing the predictability of the surgical technique. However, acquirement of connective tissue graft is technique sensitive, time-consuming and it involves the second surgical site.

Therefore, Preeti Sharma and colleagues from the Department of Periodontology and Implantology, I.T.S‑CDSR, Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, India conducted the present study to evaluate the efficacy of subepithelial connective tissue graft (SCTG) and PRF in surgical reconstruction of interdental papillae using Han and Takei technique.

The authors investigated a total of 20 sites with Class I and Class II interdental papilla defects. These sites were assigned into two groups: Group 1 – Han and Takie technique + SCTG; Group 2: Han and Takie technique + PRF. Parameters such as papillary height (PH), distance from the contact point to the tip of papillae (CPTP), papilla presence index (PPI), pocket probing depth (PPD), relative clinical attachment level (RCAL), plaque index (PI), gingival index (GI), and distance from contact point to an alveolar crest (CP‑BC) was measured at baseline and after 3 months.

The authors observed the following results-

2. The mean PI, GI, PPD, RCAL, PPI, and CPTP distance decreased significantly, whereas the mean PH increased significantly in Group 1 as well as in Group 2.
3. After 3 months, mean reduction in CPTP distance and mean gain in PH were statistically significant in Group 1 as compared to Group 2.
4. However, there was no significant difference in mean CPBC distance between baseline and 3 months in Group 1 as well as in Group 2.

Hence, the researchers concluded that "both Han and Takie technique with SCTG and Han and Takie technique with PRF was effective in the surgical reconstruction of interdental papillary recession defects. Although the SCTG technique provided a better result in terms of interdental papilla fill, PRF avoids the second donor site, thus decreasing the patient's morbidity. Therefore, PRF could be considered an alternative to the "gold standard" SCTG. The effect needs to be further investigated using long-term clinical and histological studies."

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Sharma P, Vaish S, Sharma N, Sekhar V, Achom M, Khan F. Comparative evaluation of efficacy of subepithelial connective tissue graft versus platelet‑rich fibrin membrane in surgical reconstruction of interdental papillae using Han and Takie technique: A randomized controlled clinical trial. J Indian Soc Periodontol 2020;24:547-53.