The Influence of Local Anatomy on the Outcome of Treatment of Gingival Recession Associated With Non‐Carious Cervical Lesions

Background: The present study evaluates the influence of local anatomy on the reduction in relative gingival recession (ΔRGR) and gain of clinical attachment level (ΔCAL) achieved by coronally advanced flap alone (CAF), CAF plus restoration (CAF + R), subepithelial connective tissue graft alone (CTG), and CTG plus restoration (CTG + R), to treat Miller Class I gingival recessions associated with non‐carious cervical lesions. Methods: A total of 78 defects in maxillary canines or premolars were included, and received one of the following treatments: CAF, CAF + R, CTG, or CTG + R. ΔRGR and ΔCAL after 6 months were associated with cervical lesion height (CLH), cervical lesion width, cervical lesion depth (CLD), keratinized tissue width, keratinized tissue thickness, papillae width, papillae height, bone level (BL), and post‐surgical position of the gingival margin using stepwise multivariate linear regression. Results: CLH was statistically associated with ΔRGR when CAF (P = 0.02) and CTG + R (P = 0.0002) were analyzed and statistically associated with ΔRGR when overall data (P = 0.005) from both CTG groups were analyzed. CLD was significantly associated with ΔRGR in the CAF group (P = 0.0045). BL was statistically associated with ΔRGR when evaluating the CTG group (P = 0.02). It was also significantly associated with ΔCAL when considering the CTG (P = 0.01) and the overall data (P = 0.04) from CAF (CAF and CAF + R). Conclusions: It can be concluded that CLD may influence ΔRGR when CAF is performed to treat combined defects. Additionally, BL may not negatively influence ΔRGR when the CTG technique is used.