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Updated: Mar 17, 2026
A Novel Approach to Monitoring Graft Neovascularization in the Human Gingiva
Published on: January 12, 2019
Free Gingival Grafts With or Without Xenogeneic Collagen Matrix Increase Peri-Implant Keratinised Mucosa in
Xiancheng Zeng1,2, Yanjun Ge2,3, Jiayun Dong1,2
1Department of Periodontology, Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology, Beijing, China.
Aim:
To evaluate peri-implant keratinised mucosa augmentation using free gingival grafts (FGG) versus a combined FGG/xenogeneic collagen matrix (XCM) approach in reconstructed maxillae.
Materials And Methods:
This prospective, non-randomised cohort study included patients with vascularised bone flap reconstructed maxillae. Keratinised mucosa width (KMW) was measured pre-operatively (baseline), immediately after operation and at 1 year. The primary outcome was buccal KMW gain, which was analysed using adjusted mixed-effects models with random intercepts. Exploratory histological evaluation was performed.
Results:
Twenty-five patients (76 implants) were included. Baseline buccal KMW was 0.00 ± 0.00 mm (FGG) and 0.02 ± 0.15 mm (FGG/XCM). At 1 year, it increased to 4.00 ± 1.60 mm (FGG) and 2.51 ± 1.22 mm (FGG/XCM). The adjusted mean difference in buccal KMW gain was 0.84 mm (95% CI: -0.09 to 1.77 mm; p = 0.074); 97% and 93% of implants achieved palatal KMW ≥ 2 mm, respectively (adjusted p = 0.803). Vestibular depth positively predicted buccal KMW gain. Histologically, FGG sites exhibited features of orthokeratinised epithelium, whereas XCM sites resembled parakeratinised epithelium.
Conclusions:
KMW increased in both approaches. Although buccal KMW gain tended to be greater with the FGG approach, the non-randomised design and potential residual confounding limit definitive comparisons.
Trial Registration:
ChiCTR2000041104.
