ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: To evaluate the clinical effect of modified free gingival graft technique of the peri-implant. METHODS: There were 42 mandibular posterior area implant sites in 36 patients. The width of the keratinized gingiva at the midpoint of buccal gingival margin was less than 2 mm after implantation. Two months before restoration, modified free gingival graft technique was used, i.e. the donor site was treated with individualized palatal protective plate and the recipient site was treated with individualized graft pressure plate. The survival of the graft after operation was observed. The width of buccal keratinized gingiva was measured immediately, 2, 6, 12 months after operation. Visual analogue scale (VAS) was used to record postoperative pain of the patient 1, 3, 6 days after operation. SPSS 25.0 software package was used for t test and one-way variance analysis. RESULTS: All 42 implant sites survived. The average width of buccal keratinized gingiva of the preoperative implants was (0.39±0.41) mm and (4.17±0.43) mm 12 months, postoperatively; the average increase was (3.78±0.21) mm compared with preoperative measurement. The average shrinkage was (1.12±0.12) mm. CONCLUSIONS: Modified free gingival graft technique can effectively increase the width of buccal keratinized gingiva of the implants, with minimal shrinkage of the graft 1 year after operation without significant pain after operation.