title: Surgical treatment of buccal soft tissue recessions around single implants: 1-year results from a prospective pilot study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to evaluate the outcome of a soft tissue dehiscence coverage technique, at single non-submerged implant sites, presenting shallow isolated buccal mucosal recession.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixteen patients were included in this prospective study. A connective tissue graft (CTG) was harvested from the maxillary tuberosity. The donor soft tissue was de-epithelialized and trimmed with a mucotome for an optimal adaptation to the collar of the implant.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Surgery and healing proceeded with no complications and minimal post-operative discomfort. One-year follow-up demonstrated clinical and esthetic improvements. Treatment resulted in 89.6 ± 13.1% mean coverage, and complete implant soft tissue coverage was achieved in nine of 16 cases, corresponding to a 56.3%. The VAS esthetic analysis showed a significant improvement from 3.6 ± 0.2 to 8.5 ± 0.3.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These positive preliminary results suggest that, by means of the surgical technique presented, buccal soft tissue dehiscences around single implants can be successfully treated. Additional Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) should be encouraged to assess the most effective variation to the technique in the various clinical situations and around implants of different designs.
authors.affiliation: Private Practice, Torino, Italy; Department of Maxillofacial Surgery, University of Torino, Torino, Italy.
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Roccuzzo
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gaudioso
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bunino
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dalmasso
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003238:Connective Tissue / Q000637:transplantation; D019250:Dental Implants, Single-Tooth; D005260:Female; D005889:Gingival Recession / Q000601:surgery*; D005893:Gingivoplasty / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: dehiscence; dental implants; keratinized mucosa; maintenance; mucogingival surgery; peri-implant mucosa; peri-implant tissues; recession; surgical coverage