Efficacy of Acellular Dermal Matrix Versus Free Gingival Graft for Increasing the Width  of Attached Gingiva: A Clinical Trial

Abstract Free gingival graft is the gold standard to increase the width of keratinized gingiva. Acellular dermal matrix is a suggested alternative to FGG. This study sought to compare the efficacy of ADM and FGG to increase the width of keratinized gingiva. This randomized controlled clinical trial was conducted on 16 patients with width of attached gingiva ≤1mm. The patients were divided into two groups (n = 8) for treatment with CenoDerm ADM and FGG to increase the width of keratinized gingiva. Clinical parameters including the plaque index, gingival index, probing depth and width of attached gingiva were assessed and compared between the two groups immediately after surgery and at three months. The data were analyzed using SPSS version 22 via paired t-test and Mann Whitney U test. The increase in width of attached gingiva was significant in both groups at three months compared to baseline (both Ps = 0.001). The mean increase in width of attached gingiva was 2.42±0.9mm in the test and 4.25±0.7mm in the control group; this difference was statistically significant (P = 0.001). The mean graft shrinkage was 68.9±10.9% in the test and 42.75 ± 12.81% in the control group; this difference was statistically significant as well (P = 0.001). However, both techniques yielded clinically acceptable results.