Evaluation of Clinical Efficacy of Advanced Platelet-Rich Fibrin (A-PRF) in the Management of Gingival Recession Defects: Case Series

Introduction: The purpose of this case series is to evaluate the clinical efficacy of advanced platelet-rich fibrin (APRF) in combination with coronally advanced flap (CAF) in the management of gingival recession defects and its first of its kind. Case series: Fourteen systemically healthy patients presenting with 35 RT1 recession defects were treated with A-PRF + CAF. Recession height (RH), recession width (RW), probing pocket depth (PPD), clinical attachment level (CAL), keratinized tissue height (KTH), and width of attached gingiva (WAG) were measured at baseline, 3, and 6 months. Gingival thickness (GTH) and phenotype were evaluated at baseline and 6 months postsurgery. Mean root coverage percentage (MRC%) was estimated at 3 and 6 months. At the end of 6 months, esthetics was measured on the scale of visual analogue scale (VAS) and recession esthetic scale (RES). Statistically significant reduction in mean RH was observed from baseline (2.49 +/- 0.65 mm) to 6 months (0.66 +/- 0.80 mm). At 6 months, the MRC% attained was 75.94 +/- 26.72. Complete root coverage was achieved in 18 sites. At 6 months, there was a significant gain in GTH, CAL, WAG, and KTH (p <= 0.001). The mean RES and VAS esthetic scores were 8.54 +/- 1.57 and 8.83 +/- 1.17, respectively. Conclusion: Based on the findings of this study, A-PRF may be suggested as a viable treatment option for the management of recession in maxillary anteriors and premolars.