Soft tissue management as part of peri‑implantitis treatment: When, why and how?

Background

Dental implants are susceptible to biological complications that affect the peri‑implant tissues. The role of the soft tissues compartment in promoting and maintaining peri‑implant health is still controversial in the literature, especially in terms of the amount/thickness of keratinized mucosa presence.

Purpose

To discuss the complexities of surgical treatment of peri‑implantitis when it simultaneously presents with soft tissues deficiencies.

Result

The available data supported that the presence of keratinized mucosa promotes peri‑implant health in the long term, as it favors soft tissues stability over time with less brushing discomfort reported. In the presence of peri‑implantitis associated with soft tissue deficiency, surgical peri‑implant therapy alone was not able to correct the soft tissues compartment, thus, a combined approach with peri‑implant plastic surgery is strongly advised.

Conclusion

Peri-implant soft-tissue augmentation in peri‑implantitis treatment procedures may be helpful to guarantee long-term biological, aesthetic, and functional outcomes.