Efficacy of Human Umbilical Stem Cells Cultured on Polylactic/ Polyglycolic Acid Membrane in the Treatment of Multiple Gingival Recession Defects: a Randomized Controlled Clinical Study

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM Recently allogenic mesenchymal stem cells are proposed to have multipotential progenitor cell capabilities to differentiate into cementoblasts, osteoblasts, and periodontal ligament fibroblasts. PURPOSE The aim of the present study was to compare the efficacy of human umbilical stem cells cultured on polylactic acid (PLA), polyglycolic acid (PGA) membrane with PLA/PGA membrane alone in the treatment of multiple gingival recession defects. MATERIALS AND METHOD A total number of 14 cases of multiple gingival recession (Miller's Class I or II) located in the anterior region were randomly selected and divided into test (stem cells in combination with PLA/PGA membrane) and control group (PLA/PGA membrane alone). Clinical parameters including gingival recession, probing pocket depth, clinical attachment level, and width of keratinized gingiva were recorded at baseline, and at 6 months postoperative. RESULTS At baseline, there was 2.28 mm and 2.14mm mean gingival recession at 16 sites and 14 sites in test and control groups respectively. At 6 months post-surgery, test group showed 1.57 mm mean reduction of gingival recession indicating 66% root coverage, while the control group showed 1.24mm mean reduction of gingival recession indicating 57% root coverage. CONCLUSION In the present study, the stem cell with PLA/PGA membrane showed significantly higher mean root coverage compared to only PLA/PGA membrane group.