title: Long-term outcomes of soft tissue augmentation around dental implants on soft and hard tissue stability: a systematic review.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate whether the height and volume of the soft tissues and peri-implant bone levels around dental implants are stable, when soft tissue augmentation has been performed.
  
  
  METHODS
  Three operators conducted a search on electronic databases (MEDLINE, COCHRANE, EMBASE) and a hand searching on the main journals dealing with periodontology and implantology until 30 October 2014. Only articles that considered peri-implant soft tissue augmentation performed in a group of at least 10 patients and with a follow-up of at least 1 year were selected. The outcome variables were peri-implant attached/keratinized tissue width (KTW) changes, peri-implant marginal soft tissue level (PSL) changes, and peri-implant marginal bone level (PBL) changes. The review was performed according to the PRISMA statements.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ten articles were selected for the qualitative synthesis, but only one meta-analysis was accomplished, indicating that 1 year after implant recession coverage procedures, a mean gain of 1.65 ± 0.01 mm (90% CrI [1.44; 1.85]) was observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is no long-term evidence whether augmented soft tissues can be maintained over time and able to influence the peri-implant bone levels.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery and Translational Medicine, University of Florence, Firenze, Italy.|Periodontal Unit, Eastman Dental Institute, University College of London, London, UK.
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rotundo
authors.affiliation: Private Practice, Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Umberto
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Pagliaro
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery and Translational Medicine, University of Florence, Firenze, Italy.
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bendinelli
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomaterials, The Sahlgrenska Academy at Göteborg University, Göteborg, Sweden.
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Esposito
authors.affiliation: School of Dentistry, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.
authors.forename: Jacopo
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Buti
mesh_terms: D003758:Dental Implantation, Endosseous; D015921:Dental Implants; D005881:Gingiva / Q000601:surgery*; D005893:Gingivoplasty / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans
chemical_list: D015921:Dental Implants
keywords: dental implant; review; soft tissue