MILLER CLASSIFICATION OF MARGINAL TISSUE RECESSION & PREDICTABILITY OF ROOT COVERAGE

 

Miller,P.D.,Jr.:

A classification of marginal tissue recession.

Int J Periodont Rest Dent 5: 9, 1985. 

 

 

3 criteria must be considered:

 

1 - Marginal tissue's recession's relation to the mucogingival junction (MGJ), the recession is coronal, at MGJ's level or apical to it?

 

2 - Periodontal status of the interdental area (soft tissue & bone)

 

3 - Tooth mal-position

 

There are 4 Miller Classes upon which gingival recession can be classified.

 

Before going into detail in each and everyone of them, it's worth to learn some basic distinctive features of each.

 

 

CLASS I

 

It´s the only class where the marginal recession does not reach the mucogingival junction.

There is no periodontal loss (bone or soft tissue) in the interdental area.

100% of root coverage can be anticipated.

 

 

CLASS II

 

The marginal recession extends to or beyond the mucogingival junction.

There is no periodontal loss (bone or soft tissue) in the interdental area.

100% of root coverage can be anticipated.

 

CLASSES I & II 

No periodontal loss (bone or soft tissue) in the interdental area.

The only 2 classes (I and II) where 100% of root coverage can be anticipated.

 

 

 

CLASS III

 

The marginal recession extends to or beyond the mucogingival junction.

There is periodontal loss  in the interdental area (either from bone or soft tissue, or both) or tooth mal-position.

Only partial root coverage can be anticipated.

 

 

 

CLASS IV

 

The marginal recession extends to or beyond the mucogingival junction.

There is severe periodontal loss  in the interdental area (either from bone or soft tissue, or both) and/or severe tooth mal-position.

Root coverage can not be anticipated at all.