This paper describes a surgical technique to achieve root coverage in deep, wide gingival recessions using a root isolation procedure with ePTFE membrane, combined with tetracycline conditioning of the root surface and fibrin-fibronectin sealing system application. The technique was used on 15 patients with isolated mucogingival defects 4 to 6 mm deep. A large trapezium-shaped flap was raised 3 to 4 mm apical to the margin of the bone dehiscence. The root surface was thoroughly scaled by hand and rotating instruments. Tetracycline HCl solution (100 mg/ml) was topically applied for 4 minutes. Expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) membrane was adapted at least 1 mm coronal to the CEJ and retained in position by sling sutures. A film of fibrin-fibronectin sealing system was injected between the membrane and the root surface. The flap was sutured coronally and the membrane removed 6 weeks later. The patients were reevaluated 6 months after the reentry procedure. The mean recession depth decreased from 4.7 mm initially to 1.1 mm at the final postoperative appointment. This represents a mean root coverage of 77.4%. Mean probing depth reduction was 0.9 mm and the mean width of keratinized tissue increased from 1.8 mm preoperatively to 2.9 mm 6 months after surgery. These findings show that the treatment of buccal gingival recession using guided tissue regeneration procedure plus tetracycline root demineralization and fibrin-fibronectin glue application results in a consistent and predictable improvement of mucogingival defects.

Scanning electron microscopy was used to evaluate surface characteristics of periodontitis-exposed instrumented human cementum and dentin surfaces following topical application of tetracycline HCl (TTC). Specimens were randomly assigned to application of sterile saline for 1 minute (control); TTC (10 mg/ml) for 1 minute and 4 minutes, respectively; and TTC (100 mg/ml) for 1 minute and 4 minutes, respectively. Solutions were applied with a cotton pellet using a burnishing technique. Control specimens exhibited an amorphous irregular surface smear layer. TTC treatment of cementum for 1 minute resulted in a relatively debris-free, nonhomogeneous surface. The 4-minute application resulted in a surface exhibiting a densely fibrillar, mat-like texture. Dentin specimens conditioned for 1 minute showed a smooth surface with many tubule openings partially occluded by debris. The 4-minute treatment exposed a 3-dimensional network of intertubular and peritubular collagen fibrils. No consistent morphologic differences were observed between cementum or dentin specimens treated with TTC at concentrations of 10 and 100 mg/ml, respectively. The results suggest that topical application of TTC produces morphologic alterations of periodontitis-exposed cementum and dentin that appear related to application interval rather than concentration of the drug.