The role of soft tissue augmentation in implant dentistry: a perioplastic approach

The need to create an adequate shape and volume of peri-implant soft tissues is determined by two fundamental clinical issues. First of all, the augmented esthetic requests from patients often require toincrease peri-implant soft tissues for cosmetic reasons. The final goal of treatment is indeed represented, now a day, not only by healthy tissues around natural teeth and implants, but also by an ideal bio-mimetic integration of the implant-supported reconstruction in the surrounding tissues and by the maintenance of this harmony during the follow-up.

The second reason to increase soft tissue volume around implants is linked to recent scientific knowledge and trends in this field. Different studies have demonstrated how, only an adequate volume and quality (a sufficient band of keratinized tissue) of the peri-implant soft tissues are able to protect the interface between the implant and the surrounding bone, preventing peri-implantitis. Different techniques of soft tissue augmentation will be analyzed by step-by-step clinical cases.

Learning objectives:

• Understand the rationale and the benefits of soft tissue augmentation around implants
• Describe the surgical techniques and different materials utilized in soft tissue augmentation
• Share long-term results of soft tissue augmentation