3D-Analysis of Peri-Implant Soft Tissue Gain With Collagen Matrix and Connective Tissue Graft: A Randomized Control Trial

Abstract

Objectives

To compare the efficacy of the connective tissue graft (SCTG) and the collagen matrix (VXCM) in terms of soft tissue gain at the buccal site around a single implant.

Methods

The study was designed as a randomized, controlled clinical trial. This trial was registered in ClinicalTrial.gov with the identifier NCT05870774 and is accessible under the following link: https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05870774?term=NCT05870774&rank=1. This clinical trial was not registered prior to participant recruitment and randomization. Patients with a single tooth gap and horizontal soft tissue thickness deficiency were enrolled in the study. Sites were randomly allocated to the control (SCTG) or test group (VXCM: Geistlich Fibro-Gide, Geistlich Pharma AG, Wolhusen, Switzerland) to augment buccal soft tissue thickness. The primary outcome was soft tissue gain 3 months post-op. Secondary outcomes included soft tissue gain 6 months post-op, the pink aesthetic score (PES), and patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs).

Results

Patients' recruitment started on 28 October 2021 and ended on 25 December 2022. Thirty-two patients were enrolled and subjected to intervention. Sixteen patients were included per group. Three months post-op, soft tissue gain at the buccal site was 1.77 ± 0.61 mm in the VXCM group and 1.26 ± 0.41 mm in the SCTG group (p = 0.0003). Six months post-op, soft tissue gain was 1.11 ± 0.44 mm in the VXCM group and 1.43 ± 0.81 mm in the SCTG group (p = 0.0459). PROMs, including pain perception, favored the VXCM group. SCTG demonstrated favored results in PES.

Conclusion

SCTG remains the gold standard for increasing soft tissue thickness in terms of the clinical result.