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Quantitative Assessment Protocol for Facial Soft Tissue Volumetric Changes with Stereophotogrammetry
Published on: December 9, 2025
Measurements of soft tissue volume in association with single-implant restorations: a 1-year comparative study after
Kristina Henriksson1, Torsten Jemt
1The Brånemark Clinic, Public Dental Health, Göteborg, Sweden.
Background:
Patients with buccal defects due to tooth extraction seem to regain some of the contour at the time of abutment surgery and connection of single-implant crown restorations. It can then be assumed that different abutment systems could restore the buccal contour to different degrees.
Purpose:
To measure changes in buccal tissue volume after placing restorations with single-implant crowns using two different abutment systems and to measure soft tissue change during the 1 year after single-implant treatment.
Materials And Methods:
Eighteen patients were provided with single-implant restorations in the central incisor area. Nine patients in each group were treated with single-implant crowns supported by either CeraOne abutments (Nobel Biocare AB, Göteborg, Sweden) or customized Procera ceramic abutments (Nobel Biocare AB). Study casts were made before abutment connection, at crown placement, and after 1 year. After the casts were scanned, they were analyzed with a computer, using the model before abutment as a reference. In the area of the single implant, sagittal projections provided images of the models that allowed measurements between the contours at the different situations. Radiography and photography for measuring papillary volume were also performed.
Results:
All patients exhibited increased "buccal volume" after abutment connection and crown placement (p < .01). A trend to greater increase was observed for the Procera group. Both groups also showed a reduction of buccal tissue 1 year later (p < .05-.01), leaving on average more volume in the Procera group. The papillae recovered spontaneously, and no relationship was observed between the presence of papilla and underlying bone support (p > .05).
Conclusions:
The buccal tissue increased significantly after placement of the abutment cylinder and the implant crown. This increase of buccal contour was reduced after 1 year. Furthermore, no relationship was established between the presence of papillae and the distance between the contact point and the underlying bone crest.