Ultrasound assessment of soft tissue augmentation around implants in the aesthetic zone using a connective tissue graft and xenogeneic collagen matrix - 1-year randomised follow-up.

PURPOSE: A comparative, ultrasound evaluation of the thickness of keratinized mucosa (TKT) around implants one year after gingival augmentation (GA) by means of a connective tissue graft (CTG) and the xenogeneic collagen matrix (CMX). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 75 bone level tapered implants (Conelog((R)) Camlog) were inserted in 57 patients in the aesthetic area of both jaws. The patients were divided into 3 groups: control group I- without GA; group II- GA 3 months before implantation, and group III- GA 3 months after implantation. Groups II and III were divided into two subgroups depends on type of material used for GA: (a) CMX (Mucograft((R)), Geistlich Pharma AG) and (b) CTG. The patients underwent a clinical and ultrasound examination before, then after 3 and 12 months following GA respectively to evaluate TKT at two points using ultrasound equipment (Pirop((R)), Echoson). Point 1 was considered to be in the middle of the line connecting the cemento-enamel junction (CEJ) to the adjacent teeth, and point 2 on the mucogingival junction (MGJ). RESULTS: Three months after GA, the highest increase in gingival thickness was noted in group IIIb (point 1 - 0.95mm, 2 - 1.01mm). However, 12 months after GA the highest gingival thickness was observed in group IIb (point 1 - 1.76mm, 2 - 1.36m) and next IIIb (point 1 - 1.52mm, 2 - 1.15mm). CONCLUSIONS: Both CTG and Geistlich Mucograft((R)) increased TKT, but higher values were noted using CTG augmentation before implantation. An ultrasonic device can be used as a non-invasive, reliable, and reproducible method for evaluating TKT.