Stem cells aid in treating gingival recession

Adding stromal vascular fraction (SVF) containing adipose-derived adult stem cells to existing tissue-regeneration therapies appears to enhance the treatment of gingival recession, according to a pilot study in the Journal of Implant & Advanced Clinical Dentistry (September/October 2011, Vol. 3:6, pp. 23-33).

The single-center study, which included seven female patients and one male patient ranging from 23 to 45 years of age with gingival recession, showed that combining a collagen matrix with proprietary SVF adipose processing techniques developed by IntelliCell Bioscience may be a viable alternative to treating gingival recession. In addition, it may eliminate the need for invasive harvesting of periodontal tissue, according to the study authors.

By the end of the six-month prospective study, conducted by private practitioners in New York and Texas, the mean increase in root coverage was 87% for the patients treated. In addition, 66% of treated patients achieved 100% root coverage. These numbers indicate that gingival recession was reversed, with gingival tissue growing back over the root area without having to transplant tissue from another part of the mouth into the gumline, the researchers noted. Post-treatment, patients reported little or no pain and swelling.

Gingival recession is a significant issue in dentistry, and IntelliCell is offering a noninvasive treatment that minimizes patient discomfort and improves outcomes, noted Steven Victor, IntelliCell chairman and CEO, in a press release.