Use of Xenogenic Collagen Matrices in Peri-Implant Soft Tissue Volume Augmentation: A Critical Review on the Current Evidence and New Technique Presentation.

UNLABELLED

Plastic peri-implant surgical procedures aiming to increase soft tissue volume around dental implants have long been well-described. These are represented by: pedicle soft tissue grafts (rotational flap procedures and advanced flap procedures) and free soft tissue grafts (epithelialized, also called free gingival graft (FGG), and non-epithelialized, also called, connective tissue graft (CTG) or a combination of both. To bypass the drawback connected with autologous grafts harvesting, xenogenic collagen matrices (XCM)s and collagen-based matrices derived from porcine dermis (PDXCM)s have been introduced, as an alternative, in plastic peri-implant procedures.

AIM

This review is aimed to evaluate and to critically analyze the available evidence on the effectiveness of XCMs and PDXCMs in soft tissue volume augmentation around dental implants. Moreover, a clinical case with a new soft tissue grafting procedure technique (Guided Soft Tissue Regeneration, GSTR) is presented.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

An electronic search was performed on the MEDLINE database, SCOPUS, Cochrane Library and Web of Science. The electronic search provided a total of 133 articles. One hundred and twenty-eight not meeting the inclusion criteria were excluded. Seven articles of human randomized clinical trials were selected. A total number of 108 patients were treated with CTG, and 110 patients with XCM.

RESULTS

in peri-implant soft tissue augmentation procedures, XCMs seem an effective alternative to CTGs, associated with lower patient morbidity and lower operative times.