Soft Tissue Rehabilitation of Esthetic Zone Implant with Connective Tissue

Muhterem A., İnönü E.

FDI World Dental Congress 2026, Praha, Çek Cumhuriyeti, 4 - 07 Eylül 2026, ss.1-2, (Özet Bildiri)

  • Yayın Türü: Bildiri / Özet Bildiri
  • Basıldığı Şehir: Praha
  • Basıldığı Ülke: Çek Cumhuriyeti
  • Sayfa Sayıları: ss.1-2
  • Dokuz Eylül Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

INTRODUCTION

Inflammatory processes in peri-implant soft tissues, improper implant positioning, and insufficient buccal bone support may lead to esthetic and biological complications. In the esthetic zone, loss of hard and soft tissue support may result in gingival discoloration and mucosal recession. This case report evaluates the clinical and esthetic outcomes of soft-tissue augmentation using the VISTA technique around an implant lacking buccal bone support in the maxillary anterior region.

CASE DESCRIPTION

A 42-year-old systemically healthy, non-smoking female patient presented with an implant in the #21 region. CBCT revealed absence of hard-tissue support on the buccal aspect of the implant. Based on clinical and radiographic evaluations, the defect was diagnosed as peri-implant soft- and hard-tissue deficiency according to the 2017 World Workshop classification. To improve the peri-implant soft tissue phenotype and increase peri-implant soft tissue volume, the VISTA technique, a contemporary mucogingival surgical approach, was performed in combination with de-epithelialized connective tissue graft.

DISCUSSION

In cases where buccal bone support is lacking, modification of the peri-implant soft tissue phenotype is crucial for maintaining tissue stability, masking implant shine-through, and improving prosthetic outcomes.

CONCLUSION/CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE

Measurements obtained from CBCT using a fixed reference point on the buccal region revealed that the peri-implant mucosal thickness, initially 0.7 mm, increased to 1.96 mm at the 3-month radiographic evaluation. The PES improved from 9 to 13, while the patient’s aesthetic satisfaction, assessed by the VAS, increased from 5 to 10. These findings suggest that, in cases lacking buccal bone support, an appropriate surgical technique may yield favorable esthetic and clinical outcomes.