Abstract
Background: The split-mouth randomized clinical trial evaluated and compared the clinical efficacy and patient-centered outcomes of platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) combined with modified coronally advanced flap (MCAF) and minimally invasive coronally advanced flap (MICAF) techniques for the treatment of multiple adjacent gingival recession (GR) Cairo's RT1 and/or RT2. Methods: Eighteen participants with multiple GR defects were treated using MCAF + PRF and MICAF + PRF approaches in a split-mouth design. A qualified periodontist examined the periodontal clinical parameters (recession height [RH] recession width [RW], clinical attachment level [CAL] gain, probing depth [PD], keratinized tissue width [KTW], and gingival thickness [GT]) and aesthetics at baseline and 6 months later. After 7 days, 3 months, and 6 months, patient-centered outcomes relating to pain/discomfort and aesthetics were evaluated using a visual analog scale (VAS) and a questionnaire. A statistical study was performed on the variations between the original recording and the subsequent months. Results: Both the surgical methods showed statistically significant improvements in all clinical parameters, such as RH, RW, CAL, PD, and KTW (p < 0.001). MICAF + PRF was found to have a similar clinical efficacy to MCAF + PRF for tissue gain; yet between-group differences in GT after 6 months were not statistically significant. Patient-related outcome measures (PROMs) were significantly better in MICAF + PRF with lower VAS pain scores (p < 0.001) and higher ratings of esthetic satisfaction (p < 0.001) at 6 months' follow-up. Trial Registration: Name of the Registry: Clinical Trials Registry - India (CTRI); Registration Number: CTRI/2019/01/016994.