Description:
Mucogingival surgery plays a key role in the preservation of natural dentition by managing soft tissue deficiencies and gingival recessions around teeth. Beyond the treatment of existing recession defects, contemporary mucogingival therapy is increasingly recognized as an important adjunct in phenotype modification, prevention of periodontal disease, and the management of patients after periodontal therapy. By improving the quantity and quality of the soft tissues and modifying the periodontal phenotype, mucogingival procedures can enhance tissue resistance to mechanical trauma and inflammation, facilitate plaque control, and contribute to the long-term stability of periodontal health.
Over the past decades, advances in surgical techniques, biomaterials, and diagnostic tools have significantly improved the predictability of root coverage and soft tissue augmentation procedures. Modern approaches focus not only on achieving root coverage and esthetic improvement but also on increasing tissue thickness and keratinized tissue width to support long term periodontal stability. This lecture will provide a clinical overview of contemporary mucogingival surgical strategies aimed at preserving compromised teeth and maintaining periodontal health following active periodontal treatment. Through clinical cases and current scientific evidence, this session will illustrate how mucogingival surgery can contribute not only to esthetic improvement but also to the prevention of periodontal disease progression and the long-term preservation of natural teeth.