Clinical evaluation of Class II and Class III gingival recession defects of maxillary posterior teeth treated with pedicled buccal fat pad: A pilot study

Abstract

Background: Buccal fat pad (BFP) is a specialized vascular tissue adequately present in
buccal space and is close to the maxillary posterior quadrant. The aim of this clinical study
was to evaluate the utility of pedicled BFP (PBFP) in the treatment of Class II and III gingival
recession.
Materials and Methods: Ten systemically healthy patients with age ranging from 35 to 55 years
with Class II and Class III gingival recession in the maxillary molars were selected. Before the surgical
phase, patients were enrolled in a strict maintenance program including oral hygiene instructions
and scaling and root planing. A horizontal incision of 1–1.5 cm was made in the buccal sulcus of the
maxillary molar region; buccinator muscle was separated bluntly to expose the BFP. The fat was then
teased out from its bed and spread to cover defects adequately. It was then secured and sutured
without tension. Clinical parameters such as probing depth, recession width, recession length (RL),
and width of keratinized gingiva were recorded at baseline and at 6 months postoperatively, and
weekly assessment was done at 1 week, 2 weeks, 3 weeks, and after 4 weeks for observations
during the postoperative healing.
Results: Treated recession defects healed successfully without any significant postoperative
complications. Decreased gingival recession horizontal width values from 4.65 ± 0.4327 to
0.94 ± 1.350 and RL from 6.4 ± 1.075 to 0.7 ± 0.6750 were observed postoperatively (P < 0.05).
Percentage of root coverage average was 89.3%. There was a statistically significant decrease in
the width and depth of recession.
Conclusion: Pedicled buccal fat showed promising results as the treatment modality in the
management of Class II and Class III gingival recession of maxillary posterior teeth.
Key Words: Adipose, stem cell, fat pad, gingival recession, Miller’s Class III, II