Free gingival grafts ‘may shrink more around implants than teeth’

A free gingival graft can be a “valuable and predictable” treatment for increasing keratinised tissue width around both teeth and implants, according to a prospective observational study, summarised as JCP Digest, issue 86.

Nonetheless, there may be more graft shrinkage and a greater reduction in keratinised tissue width and length in grafts around implants than in those around teeth, according to the study by researchers at the International University of Catalonia (UIC) in Barcelona, Spain,

Researchers compared dimensional changes in keratinised tissue around teeth and implants following a free gingival graft with one year of follow-up. They also evaluated graft shrinking and the position of the gingival margin.

Gingival augmentation by means of a free gingival graft (FGG) is the established “gold standard” procedure for increasing the amount of keratinised tissue. Graft shrinkage occurs during the healing phase, but it was unknown whether FGGs behave differently around teeth and implants.

The authors said that further research comparing augmentation procedures in teeth and implant was needed, with standardised parameters such as recipient anatomic site location.

The research was summarised for JCP Digest by students of the postgraduate programme in periodontology at Trinity College in Dublin, Ireland.

READ JCP DIGEST