Assessment of Two Soft Tissue Augmentation Using Acellular Dermis Around Dental Implants

Assessment of Two Soft Tissue Augmentation Protocols Using Acellular Dermis for Augmentation of Soft Tissue Quantity and Quality Around Dental Implants

This study aims to compare soft tissue grafting with acellular dermis at Phase I or Phase II dental implant surgery.

This proposed study would allow us to assess the use of two different timing protocols for soft tissue augmentation in real-world scenarios to improve clinicians' understanding of optimal protocols for soft tissue grafting and their impact on surgical outcomes, patient-reported outcomes, and long-term implant health.

Inclusion Criteria:

• English speaking
• At least 18 years old
• Must be a patient of the UAB Dental School
• Able to read and understand informed consent document
• Patients presenting with a single edentulous site planned for dental implant placement deemed deficient in soft tissue peri-implant phenotype (> 2mm width of keratinized tissue, < 1mm marginal soft tissue thickness, and/or > 2mm vertical soft tissue height)
• Presence of periodontally healthy, non-carious neighboring teeth and/or healthy restored dental implants on either side of edentulous site planned for dental implant placement.
• No anticipated need for surgical and/or endodontic care at teeth adjacent to the proposed surgical site during the study period.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Non-English speaking
• Less than 18 years old
• Smokers/tobacco users (>10 cigarettes/day)
• Patients with systemic pathologies or conditions contraindicating oral surgical procedures or adversely affecting wound healing
• Edentulous sites treatment planned for dental implant placement with adequate implant site soft tissue quality/quantity (> 2mm width of keratinized tissue, > 1mm marginal soft tissue thickness, and/or > 2mm vertical soft tissue height).
• Absence of adjacent teeth/implants on either side of the tooth to be extracted and/or edentulous sites where 2 or more adjacent implants are planned.