Comparing Single-Tooth Implant Placement With and Without Allogeneic Soft Tissue Augmentation: A Randomized Clinical...

Area of Science:

• Dental Implantology
• Periodontology
• Digital Dentistry

Background:

• Alveolar bone defects and soft tissue deficiencies are common challenges in single-tooth implant restorations.
• Augmenting soft tissues can improve esthetics and long-term implant success.
• Digital workflows offer potential for streamlined implant placement and restoration.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of an allogeneic soft tissue graft in conjunction with a fully digital workflow for single implant placement and restoration.
• To compare outcomes between patients receiving a graft and those who did not, using an impressionless digital protocol.

Main Methods:

• A prospective randomized clinical study included 39 participants undergoing single-tooth implant placement.
• Participants were randomized into a graft group (n=19) or a nongraft group (n=20).
• A fully digital workflow, including intraoral scanning and CAD/CAM, was used for surgery and restoration without analog or digital impressions. Buccal tissue changes, implant survival, probing depths, marginal bone levels, and patient-reported outcomes (OHIP-14) were assessed.

Main Results:

• Implant survival was 95% with successful impressionless crown delivery in 92% of cases.
• Both groups demonstrated buccal tissue gain, with no significant differences in linear or volumetric measurements between the graft and nongraft groups.
• No significant differences in marginal bone changes were observed between groups. Grafting resulted in minimal added morbidity. Patient-reported outcomes significantly improved over time.

Conclusions:

• Augmenting the buccal alveolar mucosa with an allogeneic soft tissue graft yields clinically favorable outcomes for single-tooth implants.
• A fully digital, impressionless workflow is validated for successful implant restoration using CAD/CAM abutments.