UCSF

Recently, dental implants have become a popular treatment to replace missing dentition. Peri-implant hard tissue, such as bone dimensional changes, has been widely investigated. New research regarding peri-implant soft tissue has emerged in the recent years focusing on the association between peri-implant soft tissue phenotype and implant health. Current evidence shows that thin gingival phenotype and a lack of adequate keratinized mucosa around dental implants are associated with recession and peri-implant diseases. However, there is still a lack of evidence evaluating the remodeling process of peri-implant soft tissue during implant treatment. This prospective pilot study aimed to investigate the change of peri-implant soft tissue phenotype and keratinized tissue width at three specific timepoints during implant treatment. Gingival thickness at 2, 4, and 6 mm from the free gingival margin and keratinized tissue width were measured in six patients receiving single implant placement in the maxillary esthetic zone at the time of tooth extraction and ridge preservation, implant placement, and implant restoration. Data analysis showed no statistically significant differences in peri-implant soft tissue measurements among the three timepoints during implant treatment. The present pilot study did not find significant changes in gingival thickness or keratinized tissue width in sites receiving dental implants throughout the different treatment timepoints.