Clinical application of acellular dermal matrix in the treating of multiple Miller class III gingival recessions via a modified tunnel technique in Chinese patients

Background The acellular dermal matrix (ADM) is an alternative to the autologous tissue grafts frequently utilized in soft tissue augmentation procedures. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical effectiveness of using an allogeneic ADM in Chinese patients with Miller class III gingival recession through a modified tunnel technique. Methods A total of 24 patients with multiple-site Miller class III gingival recession were recruited. There were 116 surgical sites involving 35 sites in the maxilla and 81 sites in the mandible. A modified tunnel techniques were performed with allogeneic ADM. Clinical parameters, including probing depth (PD), clinical attachment level (CAL), keratinized tissue width (KTW), recession depth (RD), and gingival thickness (GT) were recorded at baseline and 12 months postoperatively. The mean root coverage (MRC) was calculated based on these measurements. Results Twenty-one patients experienced smooth and complication-free healing during postoperative recovery and 3 patients with 9 teeth experienced postoperative reactions and poor healing. Significant reductions in CAL and RD were observed. Furthermore, the KTW and GT were increased. The MRC was 6.02 ± 21.04%. When we compared the changes between the maxilla and mandible, we found that there was no significant difference in CAL or RD. However, the KTW gain in the maxilla was 1.69 ± 0.83 mm, which was a more significant increase than that in the mandibular. However, GT gain in the mandible showed a more substantial increase achieving 0.50 ± 0.13 mm. There was no significant difference in MRC between maxilla and mandible (60.52 ± 15.30% vs. 55.93 ± 21.77%, P  = 0.260) Conclusions Allogeneic ADM combined with the modified tunnel technique for treating Miller Class III gingival recession showed promising short-term outcomes in Chinese patients. Trial Registration: The clinical trail was registered in the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (Registration Number: ChiCTR2200063570) on Spetember 12, 2022.