Esthetic and Dimensional Evaluation of Free Connective Tissue Grafts in Prosthetically Treated Patients: A 1‐Year Clinical Study

Abstract

Although these results are not conclusive, mostly due to a lack of a large enough sample population, the statistically significant results shown in this investigation tend to support the use of gingival augmentation procedures in prosthetic patients with insufficient keratinized gingiva and/or shallow or absent vestibules, when they cannot demonstrate adequate plaque control.

Free Gingival Grafts: Graft Shrinkage and Donor‐Site Healing in Smokers and Non‐Smokers

“…At 1 month, FGG dimensions (width, length, and area) were reduced by 35%, 18%, and 46% and 25%, 17%, and 37% in smokers and non‐smokers, respectively. The 1‐month FGG width shrinkage results are consistent with the handful of studies that have previously documented width shrinkage at 1 month, 14,17,38‐40 where the reported shrinkage was 25%, 14,17 28%, 40 32%, 38 and 38% 39 . Only one other study 39 provides 1‐month results on FGG length or area changes for sutured grafts, and the respective values were 4% and 41% 39 .…”

“…Soehren et al 12 treated 10 smokers and 10 non‐smokers; their reported data allow calculation of 3‐month width shrinkage in seven smokers (≥0.5 pack/day) and six non‐smokers as 29% and 36%, respectively. Orsini et al 40 used free connective tissue grafts, instead of FGG, to evaluate outcomes dimensionally in 16 treated patients, 3 of whom were smokers. The authors stated that smokers seemed to have higher shrinkage, but the small number of smokers did not allow statistical analysis.…”

The root coverage esthetic score: Intra‐examiner reliability among dental students and dental faculty

“…Orsini et al 6 compared the results of CTG and no gingival augmentation in similar clinical scenarios by using the following parameters: dimensional changes of CTG (mm), color blending with the adjacent tissues (F = fair or E = excellent), and health status in the adjacent gingival margin and periodontal tissues (gingival index, plaque index, probing depths, and clinical attachment levels). Orsini et al 6 compared the results of CTG and no gingival augmentation in similar clinical scenarios by using the following parameters: dimensional changes of CTG (mm), color blending with the adjacent tissues (F = fair or E = excellent), and health status in the adjacent gingival margin and periodontal tissues (gingival index, plaque index, probing depths, and clinical attachment levels).…”

Epithelized Free Autograft-A Case Report Series with Different Healing Outcomes

“…Various amounts of graft shrinkage during the healing period have been reported which ranges between 12% and 48% [15][16][17]. Studies show that shrinkage occurs during the first year after surgery and the width of keratinized tissue remains stable after that [18,19]. The results of the case series have demonstrated changes at an individual level.…”