Soft tissue management as part of peri‑implantitis treatment: When, why and how?

Abstract

Background: Dental implants are susceptible to biological complications that affect the peri‑implant tissues. The role of the soft tissues compartment in promoting and maintaining peri‑implant health is still controversial in the literature, especially in terms of the amount/thickness of keratinized mucosa presence. Purpose: To discuss the complexities of surgical treatment of peri‑implantitis when it simultaneously presents with soft tissues deficiencies. Result: The available data supported that the presence of keratinized mucosa promotes peri‑implant health in the long term, as it favors soft tissues stability over time with less brushing discomfort reported. In the presence of peri‑implantitis associated with soft tissue deficiency, surgical peri‑implant therapy alone was not able to correct the soft tissues compartment, thus, a combined approach with peri‑implant plastic surgery is strongly advised. Conclusion: Peri-implant soft-tissue augmentation in peri‑implantitis treatment procedures may be helpful to guarantee long-term biological, aesthetic, and functional outcomes.

Keywords

• Peri-implantitis
• Soft tissue augmentation
• Periodontal plastic surgery
• Keratinized mucosa
• Attached mucosa