Root Coverage Esthetic Score: A System to Evaluate the Esthetic Outcome of the Treatment of Gingival Recession Through Evaluation of Clinical Cases

Background: Generally, esthetic outcomes following root-coverage procedures are not assessed. This article proposes a score for evaluating the esthetic outcome following root-coverage surgery. Methods: Thirty-one patients with Miller Class I and 11 recession defects treated with root-coverage procedures were evaluated. Esthetic outcomes were assessed using the root coverage esthetic score (RES) 6 months after surgery. This score evaluates flue variables: level of the gingival margin, marginal tissue contour, soft tissue texture, mucogingival junction alignment, and gingival color. Because complete root coverage was the primary treatment goal, and the other variables were considered secondary, the value assigned for root coverage was 60% of the total score, whereas 40% was assigned to the other four variables. With regard to assessment of the final position of the gingival margin, 3 points were given for partial root coverage, and 6 points were given for complete root coverage; 0 points were assigned when the final position of the gingival margin was equal or apical to the previous recession. One point was assigned for each of the other four variables. Thus, 10 points was a perfect score. Results: Of the 31 treated recession defects, 24 (77%) exhibited complete root coverage at 6 months. The mean amount of root coverage was 89.4% (range, 0% to 100%). The mean RES was 7.8. Five of 24 cases of complete root coverage achieved a perfect score (RES = 10). In one case, RES = 0. Conclusion: The RES system may be a useful tool to assess the esthetic outcome following root-coverage procedures. J Periodontol 2009;80:705-710.