Vestibuloplasty covering titanium mesh with grafted free gingiva on anterior mandible: technical report and rationale

ABSTRACT

This paper describes a patient with an insufficient vestibular depth for a removable partial denture who underwent vestibuloplasty with a free gingival graft using a titanium mesh in the anterior mandible. Free gingiva was harvested from the palatal mucosa, and a partial thickness flap was elevated at the recipient site. After minimal suturing for the graft, a titanium mesh was fixed over the graft. The mesh was removed four weeks after surgery. The patient obtained an adequate vestibular depth and keratinized gingiva eight weeks after surgery without any complications. In this case, an appropriate vestibular depth and keratinized gingiva were easily obtained by vestibuloplasty using a titanium mesh.