Comparative evaluation of free gingival graft and AlloDerm(®) in enhancing the width of attached gingival: A clinical study.

BACKGROUND: The presence of an adequate width of keratinized tissue is important to maintain a healthy dentogingival junction. In case of inadequate width of attached gingiva, the gingival augmentation procedure has been performed classically using the patient's own masticatory mucosa and more recently, using an acellular dermal allograft as the donor material.

AIMS: The aim of the clinical study was to evaluate and compare the effectiveness of free gingival graft (FGG) and acellular dermal matrix (ADM) allograft in the ability to increase the zone of attached gingiva.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifteen patients with 30 sites showing the inadequate width of attached gingiva (≤1 mm) were enrolled for the split-mouth study. The width of keratinized gingiva and other clinical parameters were recorded at baseline and 12(th) month postoperatively.

STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: The difference in clinical parameters within the group was assessed by Wilcoxon signed rank test. However, Mann-Whitney U-test was used to analyze the differences between test and control groups.

RESULTS: The width of attached gingiva increased significantly (P < 0.01) following both the treatments but comparatively lesser gain with ADM allograft (2.13 mm vs. 4.8 mm). ADM site had significantly more shrinkage (76.6%) than FGG site (49.7%). Though FGG was found to be more effective, clinicians can prefer ADM allograft because of its certain advantages over the FGG.

CONCLUSION: ADM allograft has resulted in sufficient increase in width of attached gingiva although lesser than FGG. Considering the disadvantages of FGG, it can be concluded that ADM allograft can be used as an alternative to FGG in increasing width of attached gingival in certain clinical situations.