Soft tissue stability around dental implants after soft tissue grafting from the lateral palate or the tuberosity area - A randomized controlled clinical study.

AIM: To compare the soft tissue stability (STA) around single implants previously augmented with either subepithelial connective tissue graft (SCTG) from the lateral palate (LP) or from the tuberosity area (TA). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Twenty-nine patients showing 33 implants with buccal volume deficiency randomly received SCTG from LP (control group/CG) or TA (test group/TG). At 4 months (FU-4) the definitive crown was installed and an intra-oral scan performed. At 12 months (FU-12), a new scan was registered. Between FU-4 and FU-12 STA was evaluated by STL image superimposition. Clinical parameters and the modified pink aesthetic score (PES) (Fürhauser et al. 2005) were recorded. RESULTS: After FU-4 both tissues demonstrated a similar STA without statistically significant differences (SSD). The mean soft tissue changes were 0.03 ± 0.22 mm for CG and 0.04 ± 0.23 mm for TG (p = .870). SSD were observed for changes in keratinized tissue (KT) with greater stability for TG (0 ± 0.32 mm) compared with CG (-0.3 ± 0.33 mm) (p = .002). PES resulted in mean values of 8.37 ± 2.46 for CG and 8.54 ± 2.43 for TG (p=.59). CONCLUSIONS: Both groups demonstrated similar STA between the definitive crown placement and 12 months, while greater stability of the KT gained was observed in TG.

Soft tissue volume gain around dental implants using autogenous subepithelial connective tissue grafts harvested from the lateral palate or tuberosity area. A randomized controlled clinical study.

AIM: To compare the soft tissue volume gain (VG) around single tooth implants with subepithelial connective tissue graft (SCTG) from either the lateral palate (LP) or from the tuberosity area (TA). METHODS: Thirty-two patients with 36 implants with buccal volume deficiencies were randomly assigned to receive SCTG from LP (control group/CG) or TA (test group/TG). Clinical parameters were recorded. VG was evaluated by stereolithography (STL) image superimposition of two intraoral scans (baseline/BL and 3 months after surgery/FU-3). Descriptive analysis was performed for both groups, and for comparisons, Mann-Whitney U test was used. RESULTS: In terms of VG values, no statistically significant differences were observed except for values at 6 and 7 mm apically to the healing abutment which favoured the TG. Mean values were 0.69 ± 0.23 mm for CG while TG obtained 0.79 ± 0.10 mm (p = .64). Regarding Keratinized tissue (KT) width statistical significant differences were found favouring TG, which obtained a gain of 0.83 ± 0.61 mm compared with 0.22 ± 0.48 mm for CG (p = .009). Pink esthetic scores resulted in mean values of 10.07 ± 2.19 for the CG, while TG obtained 9.15 ± 2.34. CONCLUSIONS: Both procedures were effective in increasing soft tissue volume with no statistically significant differences. A longer follow-up is needed to confirm or refute these results.