Papilla Access Tunnel Combined With the Laterally Closed Tunnel: A Technique for Treatment of Deep Gingival Recession in the Anterior Mandible

Objective: Treatment of gingival recession in the anterior mandible is more complex due to unique anatomic features including excessive tension due to frenal and muscle attachments, thin tissue, shallow vestibule, and narrow interdental space. These features are particularly limiting in the presence of deep recession and negatively impact the success most routine soft tissue grafting procedures. The recently proposed laterally closed tunnel combined the benefit of tension management from tunneling rather than incising papillae with lateral closure of deep recession to minimize the need for coronal advancement.

Clinical considerations: This is an effective, although technically demanding procedure. This report presents a method of facilitating tunnel preparation by utilizing superficial papillary access incisions bilaterally in the papilla between the lateral incisor and canine. This papilla has the least tension and most robust interdental volume and blood supply. This incision creates a mini flap that facilitates tunnel dissection and graft placement.

Conclusion: Because the mini flap is used for graft insertion, the suturing for lateral closure can be performed before graft insertion. The result is reduced technical difficulty.