Soft tissue dehiscence coverage around endosseous implants: a prospective cohort study

Clin Oral Implants Res. 2008 May;19(5):451-7. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-0501.2007.01497.x. Epub 2008 Mar 26.

Abstract

Aim: To evaluate the healing outcome of soft tissue dehiscence coverage at implant sites.

Material and methods: Ten patients with one mucosal recession defect at an implant site and a contralateral unrestored clinical crown without recession were recruited. The soft tissue recessions were surgically covered using a coronally advanced flap in combination with a free connective tissue graft. Healing was studied at 1, 3 and 6 months post-operatively.

Results: Soft tissue dehiscences were covered with a coronal overcompensation of the flap margin up to 1.2 mm after the procedure. After 1 month, the coverage shrank to a mean of 75%, after 3 months to 70% and after 6 months to 66%.

Conclusions: The implant sites revealed a substantial, clinically significant improvement following coronal mucosal displacement in combination with connective tissue grafting, but in none of the sites, a could complete implant soft tissue dehiscence coverage be achieved.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Connective Tissue / transplantation
  • Dental Implantation, Endosseous / adverse effects*
  • Dental Implants, Single-Tooth / adverse effects*
  • Female
  • Gingiva / pathology
  • Gingiva / transplantation
  • Gingival Recession / etiology*
  • Gingival Recession / surgery*
  • Gingivoplasty / methods*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Prospective Studies
  • Regression Analysis
  • Statistics, Nonparametric
  • Surgical Flaps
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Vestibuloplasty / methods