Influence of timing on the horizontal stability of connective tissue grafts for buccal soft tissue augmentation at single implants: a prospective controlled pilot study

Publication date: Available online 26 February 2019

Source: Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery

Author(s): Pier Paolo Poli, Paolo Carlo Maridati, Enrico Stoffella, Mario Beretta, Carlo Maiorana

Abstract

Purpose

The influence of different timing for soft tissue augmentation during implant therapy is still debated. Therefore, the present study aimed to evaluate clinically whether immediate versus delayed soft tissue augmentation procedures had an impact on the stability of peri-implant mucosal thickness.

Methods

Subjects requiring a single implant posterior to the canines in association with soft tissue augmentation procedures at the buccal aspect of single implants by means of connective tissue graft (CTG) were enrolled. Patients were randomly allocated to two different timing protocols: implant placement and simultaneous CTG (test group) or implant placement and CTG after 3 months (control group). PMT was measured clinically at the mid-buccal aspect of the implant site by bone sounding with an endodontic K-file using customized acrylic stents. PMT measurements were recorded before and after implant placement, and at 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 9, and 12 months following implant insertion. Parametric statistical tests were used to compare the PMT between test and control groups at each study period and to evaluate the changes in PMT over time. The level of significance was set at P < .05.

Results

A total of 14 implants placed in 14 patients were available for the statistical comparison.

At 12 months, the difference in PMT between test and control groups was 0.12 ± 0.51 mm. This difference was not statistically significant (P = .54). A significant increase in PMT was observed from baseline to 12 months post-implantation in both test (P = .004) and control (P < .001) groups.

Conclusions

The present study indicated that changes in PMT following CTG were not influenced by the timing of soft tissue augmentation, and remained stable up to one year after implant insertion.

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