Non‐interventional 1‐year follow‐up study of peri‐implant soft tissues following previous soft tissue augmentation and crown insertion in single‐tooth gaps

Aim To assess peri‐implant soft tissue dimensions at implant sites, previously augmented with a collagen matrix ( VCMX ) or an autogenous subepithelial connective tissue graft ( SCTG ), between crown insertion and 1 year. Methods Twenty patients with single‐tooth implants received soft tissue augmentation prior to abutment connection randomly using VCMX or SCTG . Following abutment connection 3 months later, final reconstructions were fabricated and inserted (baseline). Patients were recalled at 6 months (6M) and at 1 year ( FU ‐1). Measurements included clinical data, soft tissue thickness, volumetric outcomes and patient‐reported outcome measures ( PROM s). Results The buccal soft tissue thickness showed a median decrease of −0.5 mm (−1.0;0.3) ( VCMX ) and 0.0 mm (−0.5;1.0) ( SCTG ) ( p  = .243) up to FU ‐1. The soft tissue volume demonstrated a median decrease between BL and FU ‐1 of −0.1 mm (−0.2;0.0) ( p  = .301) for VCMX and a significant decrease of −0.2 mm (−0.4; −0.1) ( p  = .002) for SCTG, respectively. Intergroup comparisons did not reveal any significant differences between the groups for peri‐implant soft tissue dimensions and changes up to FU ‐1 ( p  > .05). PROM s did not show any significant changes over time nor differences between the groups. Conclusion Between crown insertion and 1 year, the buccal peri‐implant soft tissue dimensions remained stable without relevant differences between sites that had previously been grafted with VCMX or SCTG .