The use of acellular dermal matrix membrane for vertical soft tissue augmentation during submerged implant placement: a case series.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the efficiency of acellular dermal matrix membrane to augment vertical peri-implant soft tissue thickness during submerged implant placement.


METHODS
Forty acellular dermal matrix-derived allogenic membranes (AlloDerm, BioHorizons, Birmingham, AL, USA) and 42 laser-modified surface internal hex implants (BioHorizons Tapered Laser Lok, Birmingham, AL, USA) were placed in submerged approach in 40 patients (15 males and 25 females, mean age 42.5 ± 1.7) with a thin vertical soft tissue thickness of 2 mm or less. After 3 months, healing abutments were connected to implants, and the augmented soft tissue thickness was measured with periodontal probe. The gain in vertical soft tissue volume was calculated. Mann-Whitney U-test was applied and significance was set to 0.05.


RESULTS
All 40 allografts healed successfully. Thin soft tissue before augmentation had an average thickness of 1.54 ± 0.51 mm SD (range, 0.5-2.0 mm, median 1.75 mm), and after soft tissue augmentation with acellular dermal matrix, thickness increased to 3.75 ± 0.54 mm SD (range, 3.0-5.0 mm, median 4.0 mm) at 3 months after placement. This difference between medians was found to be statistically significant (P < 0.001). Mean increase in soft tissue thickness was 2.21 ± 0.85 mm SD (range, 1.0-4.5 mm, median 2.0 mm).


CONCLUSIONS
It can be concluded that acellular dermal matrix membrane can be successfully used for vertical soft tissue augmentation.
Vilnius Mokslo Grupe, Vilnius, Lithuania.|Vilnius Implantology Center, Vilnius, Lithuania.
Algirdas
A
Puisys
Vilnius Mokslo Grupe, Vilnius, Lithuania.|Vilnius Implantology Center, Vilnius, Lithuania.
Egle
E
Vindasiute
Institute of Odontology, Faculty of Medicine, Vilnius University, Vilnius, Lithuania.
Laura
L
Linkevciene
Vilnius Mokslo Grupe, Vilnius, Lithuania.|Vilnius Implantology Center, Vilnius, Lithuania.|Institute of Odontology, Faculty of Medicine, Vilnius University, Vilnius, Lithuania.
Tomas
T
Linkevicius
D000328:Adult; D003094:Collagen / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003758:Dental Implantation, Endosseous / Q000379:methods*; D015921:Dental Implants; D005260:Female; D005881:Gingiva / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007576:Jaw, Edentulous, Partially / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013499:Surface Properties; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014945:Wound Healing
C440568:Alloderm; D015921:Dental Implants; D003094:Collagen
allogenic membrane; biologic width; crestal bone loss; thin mucosal tissues; tissue thickening