Soft tissue features of peri‐implant diseases and related treatment

Abstract Background The need for soft tissue grafting at implant sites for preventing and treating peri‐implant diseases is a currently investigated and debated topic. Purpose The aim of this manuscript is to explore the inflammatory mechanisms at the peri‐implant soft tissue compartment, to distinguish the structural components of the peri‐implant soft tissue phenotype and their role on peri‐implant health, and to appraise the clinical indications and expected outcomes of soft tissue augmentation procedures at peri‐implant diseased sites. Materials and Methods This narrative review depicts the inflammatory biomarkers and mediators in the peri‐implant crevicular fluid utilized to diagnose peri‐implant disease and that have been shown to be associated with peri‐implant soft tissue phenotype modification and disease resolution. The impact of the peri‐implant soft tissue phenotype, involving keratinized mucosa (KM) width, attached mucosa (AM), mucosal thickness (MT), and supracrestal tissue height (STH), on peri‐implant health, esthetic, patient's comfort and disease prevention are discussed. The manuscript also illustrates the use of ultrasonography for the detection of peri‐implant health/disease and the evaluation of the treatment outcomes following surgical therapies. Results Current evidence indicates that soft tissue phenotype modification at implant sites with inadequate KM width, AM and MT can be beneficial for promoting peri‐implant health and improving patient's comfort and hygiene procedures. Treatment approaches and outcomes from the available literature on soft tissue phenotype modification in combination with conventional techniques at sites with peri‐implant mucositis or peri‐implantitis are presented and discussed in detail. Conclusions Soft tissue grafting can be beneficial in preventing and treating peri‐implant diseases. Clinical recommendations based on the disease, soft tissue phenotype characteristics and bone defect morphology are provided for a comprehensive hard‐ and soft‐tissue‐oriented treatment of peri‐implant disease.