Efficacy of a new papilla generation technique in implant dentistry: a preliminary study

To compare the efficacy of a new uncovering technique with that of the conventional uncovering technique for papilla generation.

Thirty-three patients with 67 implants were enrolled in the study. Patients were randomly assigned to 1 of 2 treatment groups (test and control). Implants of the test group were uncovered by the new technique and implants of the other group uncovered by the conventional technique (simple midcrestal incision). The height of each papilla after uncovering at baseline, 3 months, and 6 months and the thickness of the tissue covering the implant prior the uncovering were measured. PPD, PI, GI, and BOP measurements were made at 0 and 6 months, and standardized radiographs were obtained at 0, 3, and 6 months. Subject means were used for all statistical analyses.

The mean difference between the 2 surgical methods revealed that the new technique provided 1.5 mm greater papilla height (P < .001) at all 3 visits (baseline, 3, and 6 months) for implants adjacent to teeth. An overall significant difference for papilla height between the implants was detected between the 2 groups (P = .02). There was no significant difference between the 2 groups with regard to PPD, PI, GI, BOP, thickness of soft tissue, or overall bone level measurements during the course of the study.

Based on this study, it appears that over the course of 6 months, the new surgical approach for uncovering leads to a more favorable soft tissue response.