Soft tissue augmentation procedures around teeth and dental implants

It is well described how periodontal plastic procedures can augment keratinized tissue and increase soft tissue volume. The relationship between periodontal tissue and natural tooth-supporting tissues of an osseointegrated implant must be organized not only to anchor the implant in bone but also to form a protective soft tissue seal around teeth and implant. The maintenance of a healthy soft tissue barrier is as important as osseointegration itself for the long-term success of implant-supported prosthesis. Hence, soft tissue augmentation with autogenous grafts is a widely used procedure in dentistry. In addition to establishing functional and biological stability around teeth and implants, these procedures are indicated for augmentation of areas with a reduction or absence of keratinized tissue or for increasing soft tissue volume, especially in partially and fully edentulous patients. Soft tissue augmentation procedures have widely been used for surgical correction of localized alveolar ridge defects, for pre-prosthetic site development and for ridge preservation. Hence, this book focuses on methods to improve the soft tissue health around teeth and implants.