Soft tissue management: the key to the success of periodontal treatment

¹ Hospital University Assistant Lecturer in Periodontology, Bordeaux  
² Exclusive private practice in periodontology and implantology, Bordeaux  

Address for correspondence: Antoine Popelut, Avenue de la Libération – 33740 Arès – France. E-mail: antoine.popelut@hotmail.fr

Received: 1 February 2017
Accepted: 18 February 2017

Abstract

Esthetic demands are consistently on the rise, the treatment of gingival recession through periodontal plastic surgery has become an important treatment in our repertoire. The etiology of recession is well defined: brushing-related trauma and bacterial plaque are the most frequent etiological factors for gingival recession, and they act on bony dehiscence that may be anatomical or acquired. The objectives of these procedures are to increase the width of the keratinized tissues and the volume of the soft tissues. The evolution of orthodontics with the incorporation of microsurgical techniques, which are minimally invasive and do not require incisions, has led to more predictable esthetic results. The tunnel technique thus perfectly fulfills these criteria for success and ease of recovery with no scarring, and the natural appearance of the epithelial transitions.