TISSUE GRAFT PUTS BRAKES ON GUM RECESSION
TISSUE GRAFT PUTS BRAKES ON GUM RECESSION In a study published in the October Journal of Oral Implantology, researchers from Loma Linda University School of Dentistry in Loma Linda, Calif, set out to resolve the problem of gingival recession following
TISSUE GRAFT PUTS BRAKES ON GUM RECESSION
In a study published in the October Journal of Oral Implantology, researchers from Loma Linda University School of Dentistry in Loma Linda, Calif, set out to resolve the problem of gingival recession following immediate single-tooth replacement. The team selected 10 patients to undergo a procedure in which an implant was placed in the socket immediately following the removal of a tooth. Researchers then performed a subepithelial connective tissue graft, which involves the harvesting of soft tissue from the palate with a single incision. The tissue is then inserted and sutured into an envelope that’s been created between the labial bone and the gingiva at the point of extraction. This, it was found, helped to preserve soft tissue levels, counteracting the gum’s tendency to recede.Patients were evaluated at five intervals: before surgery, at the time of surgery, and at three, six, and 12 months post-op. Although one implant failed, the other nine patients experienced good tissue integration and minimal bone loss or gum recession. The researchers concluded that through correct three-dimensional positioning of an implant in the socket gap—in conjunction with placement of graft tissue—a high success rate can be achieved in this procedure.
