Formation and stability of mucogingival junction on teeth without clinically detectable mucogingival junction secondary to vestibular extension procedure done for multiple adjacent teeth: A clinical study.

Context: There are very limited data on the postsurgical formation of a mucogingival junction (MGJ) on teeth without its clinical detectability.

Aims: The purpose of this study was to assess the formation and stability of MGJ on teeth without clinically detectable MGJ secondary to vestibular extension procedures for multiple adjacent teeth evaluated 6 months postoperatively.

Settings and design: This prospective interventional single-arm clinical study was conducted in the department of Periodontology, which was approved by the institutional ethical committee, MUHS, Nashik, and registered with the Clinical Trial Registry of India.

Materials and methods: This trial included 22 participants aged between 18 and 50 years of either gender, including teeth without clinically detectable MGJ along with adjacent teeth having detectable MGJs. The following clinical parameters were taken at baseline, presurgical, immediate postsurgical, 1-month and 6-month follow-ups: plaque index, gingival index, and position of MGJ. gingival margin level, probing depth, width of keratinized gingiva, width of attached gingiva, clinical attachment level, and vestibular depth.

Statistical analysis used: Descriptive statistics included mean, median, mode, etc., and the inferential statistics done were analysis of variance along with post hoc Tukey and independent sample tests.

Results: Apical shift of MGJ was observed from baseline to 6 months secondary to split-full-split repositioning MGJ with vestibular extension procedure, which was statistically significant (P < 0.05). The formation of MGJ was delineated by clinical and biochemical methods at sites with nondetectable MGJ. The coronal migration of MGJ at 6 months as compared to 1 month was not statistically significant (P > 0.05). The MGJ remained stable at 6 months postoperatively at detectable and nondetectable sites.

Conclusion: Within the limitations of this study, we can conclude that there is a definite formation of MGJ in participants without clinically detectable MGJ treated with "split-full-split MGJ-repositioning vestibular extension procedure." The MGJ, which formed apically at a 1-month postsurgical visit compared to the presurgical position, remained stable for 6 months to 1-year follow-up period at both detectable and nondetectable sites.