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

Abstract 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 ® 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 ® , 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 ® , 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 – 0.95 mm, 2 – 1.01 mm). However, 12 months after GA the highest gingival thickness was observed in group IIb (point 1 – 1.76 mm, 2 – 1.36 m) and next IIIb (point 1 – 1.52 mm, 2 – 1.15 mm). Conclusions Both CTG and Geistlich Mucograft ® 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.