The biological rationale and clinical concepts for soft tissue reconstruction at teeth and implants
Predictable coverage of single and multiple adjacent recessions, particularly in the mandibular area, remains a clinical challenge. Several factors, including tooth anatomy and position, recession depth and width, the presence or absence of supporting bone, and soft tissue thickness, may limit soft tissue management and consequently compromise treatment outcomes.
Substantial evidence indicates that the Modified Coronally Advanced Tunnel (MCAT), the more recently described Laterally Closed Tunnel (LCT), or the combined MCAT + LCT technique, when used in conjunction with palatal subepithelial connective tissue grafts (CTGs), can result in predictable outcomes and long-term stability. More recently, these techniques have also been successfully applied for the treatment of mucosal recessions at
dental implants.
Novel data point to location-dependent differences between palatal CTGs harvested from different donor sites, thereby providing the basis for future personalization of therapeutic strategies through the selection of the most appropriate graft type according to the specific clinical indication.
The aim of this presentation is to provide the biological rationale and treatment philosophy for the use of tunnelling approaches in soft tissue reconstruction across various clinical scenarios at teeth and dental implants, and to offer clinicians a practical clinical concept that can be immediately implemented in daily practice.
Prof. Anton Sculean is Professor and Chairman of the Department of Periodontology and Executive Director of the School of Dental Medicine at the University of Bern, Switzerland. He is internationally recognized for his expertise in periodontal wound healing and regeneration, plastic-esthetic periodontal surgery, and the treatment of periodontal and peri-implant infections.
He has authored more than 600 peer-reviewed publications, numerous textbook chapters, and has delivered over 1,000 lectures worldwide. Prof. Sculean is Editor-in-Chief of Periodontology 2000 and currently serves as Secretary General of the European Federation of Periodontology (EFP).
Throughout his career, he has received multiple international awards and distinctions for his contributions to periodontology and regenerative dentistry.
