Behavioral Comparison of Three Different Graft Materials to Increase Soft Tissue Thickness Around Dental Implants.

Behavioral Comparison of Three Different Graft Materials to Increase Soft Tissue Thickness Around Dental Implants in Terms of Volume Gain and Stability Over Time: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

The purpose of the study is to compare soft tissue volume changes in terms of volume gain and stability around dental implants and PROMS in cases where a sub-epithelial connective tissue graft (SCTG) from the palate, Porcine collagen matrix (CM) or Porcine Acellular dermal matrix (PADM) is used after 3 and 15 months after implant placement.

Inclusion Criteria:

Patients referred to Department of Periodontology (CUO) in need of a single implant and need of soft tissue augmentation such as buccal defects, thin biotype, lack of keratinized tissue and aesthetic compromised situation.

• The patient must be ≥18 years and able to understand the nature of the proposed surgery and must sign an informed consent.
• The implant must be located between 2 fixed reference points (i.e. clinical crowns).
• Anterior and premolar teeth (from premolar to premolar).
• Enough crestal bone width to leave a minimum thickness of 2mm at the buccal bone plate when placing the implant.
• Palate must have ≥2mm of thickness at premolar area.
• Full mouth plaque and bleeding score <20%.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Pregnant or lactation.
• Active periodontal disease.
• Previous soft tissue augmentation in the area.
• Need of guided bone regeneration (GBR) during or after the placement of the implant.
• Heavy smokers (> 10 cigarettes per day).
• Local or systemic conditions that would interfere with routine periodontal therapy (non-controlled diabetes mellitus, cancer, HIV, Chronic High dose steroid therapy, bone metabolic diseases, radiation, immunosuppressive disorders, liver function disorder, immunosuppressant disease, autoimmune disease).
• Allergy to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
• Patients taking medications that cause gingival enlargement.