Gingival esthetics has become a decisive factor in the overall success of an implant-supported restoration, Successful implant therapy is no longer judged by whether or not the implant simply osseointegrates. The aim of the present study was to clinically evaluate and compare between bone graft and connective tissue graft in reconstruction of inter-implants papillae.
The present study was conducted on 16 patients. Each patient received two adjacent implants placed in the anterior esthetic zone. The sixteen patients were divided into two groups: Group (A): spongy bone sheets were used in reconstruction of the papilla. Group (B): connective tissue graft was used in reconstruction of the papilla. The comparison between spongy bone sheets (group A) and subepithelial connective tissue graft (group B) in reconstruction of inter-implants papillae showed no statistically significant difference between the two groups regarding the clinical soft tissue height at two, four and six months follow-ups , however in comparing between percentage increase in clinical soft tissue height, Group A showed statistically significantly higher mean % increase in clinical soft tissue height than Group B from 4 months to 6 months and after 6 months. Osteoplant Flex bone sheets and Sub-epithelial connective tissue graft can be successfully used in reconstruction of inter-dental papilla between two implants. However, Successful interimplant papilla reconstruction depends on a lot of variables that have to be in mind beside proper treatment plane which is the key for favorable esthetic results.
