The International Journal of Periodontics & Restorative Dentistry 2019

Minimally invasive techniques for root coverage continue to be a topic of high interest for our readership. In this issue, Rasperini et al publish their research “Graftless Tunnel Technique for the Treatment of Multiple Gingival Recessions in Sites with Thick or Very Thick Biotype: A Prospective Case Series.” The report presents a prospective case series to investigate the efficacy of graftless tunnel technique (TUN) in the treatment of multiple gingival recessions (GRs) characterized by thick or very thick biotype. Twenty-seven GRs were treated in seven patients using graftless TUN. At 6-month postoperative evaluations, the mean root coverage was 84.57% ± 31.1%, while complete root coverage was achieved in 77.8% of treated GR sites and in six out of seven patients. TUN technique is normally performed in combination with soft tissue grafts, either autogenous connective tissue graft or substitutes, regardless of a patient’s biotype; however, the authors utilize TUM successfully without the addition of a graft. This report raises questions as to the balance between minimally invasive approaches with predictable efficacy.