Soft-tissue augmentation procedures in edentulous esthetic areas.

Loss of dentition leads to functional and esthetic challenges that are determined by the anatomic features of the edentulous area. These features can complicate the prosthetic rehabilitation of such patients, especially in situations where optimal esthetic outcomes are desired. For these reasons, reconstructive plastic surgery procedures, aimed at restoring the alveolar ridge to its former dimensions, have become of great clinical interest. These reconstructive plastic surgery procedures frequently involve soft-tissue augmentation, performed to improve the quality and quantity of mucogingival tissue with the aim to achieve an ideal esthetic result. This review will focus on the description and expected outcomes of different surgical techniques for soft-tissue augmentation in edentulous areas, as described in the literature. Although more information from a larger number of studies and randomized controlled clinical trials is needed, it is possible to draw some conclusions, namely: pouch procedures are the first choice for soft-tissue augmentation, especially in high-demand esthetic areas; roll techniques are possible in shallow buccolingual soft-tissue augmentations; and onlay, inlay and combination grafts are less suitable for soft-tissue augmentation because of their poor esthetic results.

The connective tissue graft wall technique to improve root coverage and clinical attachment levels in lingual gingival defects.

The present case report describes the application of the connective tissue graft wall (CTGW) technique for the treatment of deep lingual gingival recessions associated with probing pockets and bone loss. Two deep lingual gingival recessions affecting the mandibular central incisors associated with severe lingual attachment and bone loss were treated. The surgical technique comprised a connective tissue graft (CTG) placed below a trapezoidal-type coronally advanced flap (CAF) acting as a lingual soft tissue wall of the infrabony defect. One year after the surgery, clinically significant root coverage, an increase in lingual keratinized tissue (KT) height and thickness, and clinical attachment level gain were achieved in both treated teeth. This case report encourages the application of the CTGW technique to improve both root coverage and regenerative parameters in lingual gingival recessions associated with severe attachment and bone loss.