Treatment of buccal gingival recessions with e-PTFE membranes and miniscrews: surgical procedure and results of 12 cases.

A surgical technique to achieve root coverage in buccal gingival recessions by means of expanded polytetrafluoroethylene membranes in combination with miniscrews is presented. After raising a trapezoidal split flap, supporting screws were used to create a large space underneath the membrane, while head screws were employed for perfect stabilization of the Teflon barrier. Intramarrow perforations were made to induce the rapid formation of a large blood clot with abundant availability of progenitor cells. The membrane and the miniscrews were removed after 3 or 4 weeks. The treatment of 12 cases, with mucogingival defects 4 to 7 mm deep, resulted in a mean root coverage of 84%.