Autogenous vs. Xenogeneic Peri-implant Soft Tissue Grafts Placed in Full vs. Split Thickness Flaps

Palatally displaced crestal incision at the edentulous site, combined with the split thickness elevation of a buccal flap, extended to the sulcus of the adjacent mesial and distal tooth. Flap elevation performed with a micro-blade, in a buccal and apical direction, for approximately 15mm apical to the crestal incision.

Palatally displaced crestal incision at the edentulous site, combined with the full thickness elevation of a buccal flap, extended to the sulcus of the adjacent mesial and distal tooth. Flap elevation performed with a fine periosteal elevator, in a buccal and apical direction, for approximately 15mm apical to the crestal incision.

Harvest of a sub epithelial connective tissue graft using a double incision technique, approximately 2-3 mm apical to the palatal gingival margins of the first and second premolars. Graft dimension standardised as 10mm (mesio-distally) by 6-8mm (apico-coronally) by 1,5mm (thickness). Graft stabilised at the inner aspect of the buccal flap, 1mm apical to the flap margin, using one mesial and one distal horizontal mattress sutures.

Geistlich Fibro-Gide® matrix shaped at a standardised dimension of 10mm (mesio-distally) by 6-8mm (apico-coronally) by 6mm (thickness). Matrix stabilised at the inner aspect of the buccal flap, 1mm apical to the flap margin, using one mesial and one distal horizontal mattress sutures.