Background
This systematic review endeavored to investigate the effect of soft tissue phenotype modification therapy (PhMT‐s) at sites with a tooth or an implant supported fixed dental prosthesis.
Methods
A comprehensive literature search was conducted by two independent examiners to identify relevant studies reporting differences in clinical, esthetic, or radiographic outcomes of interest between sites underwent PhMT‐s and sites that remained untreated. Risk of bias assessment was calculated for all included studies. Meta‐analyses involving endpoints of interest were performed when feasible.
Results
No controlled studies pertaining to tooth sites were identified. A total of six articles reporting on the outcomes of buccal soft tissue phenotype modification around implants were selected, of which, five were included in the meta‐analyses. Quantitative analyses showed a weighted mean difference (WMD) of 0.98 mm (95% CI = 0.25 to 1.72 mm, P = 0.009) for change of tissue thickness; a WMD of −4.87% (95% CI = −34.27 to 24.53%, P = 0.75) for bleeding on probing (BOP); a WMD of 0.36 mm (95% CI = 0.12 to 0.59 mm, P = 0.003) for mucosal recession (MR); a WMD of 0.13 mm (95% CI = −0.11 to 0.36 mm, P = 0.30 for probing depth (PD); a WMD of 1.08 (95% CI = −0.39 to 2.55, P = 0.15) for pink esthetic score (PES), and a WMD of 0.40 mm (95% CI = −0.34 to 1.14 mm, P = 0.28) for marginal bone loss (MBL).
Conclusions
Surgical modification of peri‐implant soft tissue phenotype via PhMT‐s may decrease the amount of MR. Future clinical trials are needed to warrant the clinical benefits of modifying soft tissue phenotype around tooth‐supported restorations.
