Soft Tissue Augmentation Around Dental Implants
The Use of Collagen Matrices and Connective Tissue Grafts for Soft Tissue Augmentation Around Dental Implants
1 other identifier
interventional
84
1 country
1
Brief Summary
The goal of this study is to determine which method better increases the volume of soft tissues (gums) around dental implants: using the patient's own tissues or applying collagen matrices. The study also evaluates the safety of these methods and their impact on smile aesthetics. The main questions it aims to answer: Which method provides greater and more stable increase in gum thickness around the implant? Does the choice of material affect gum color (how well it matches adjacent areas)? What features of healing and cellular tissue structure are observed when using different materials? Researchers will compare: Autogenous connective tissue grafts (CTG) - the patient's own connective tissue grafts harvested from the palate or maxillary tuberosity Xenogeneic collagen matrices (XCM) - bioresorbable materials of animal origin (Fibro-Gide® and FibroMatrix®) that do not require harvesting the patient's own tissue Participants will: Undergo a surgical procedure to increase soft tissue volume in the area of implant placement (using one of four methods assigned randomly) Attend clinic visits for follow-up examinations and assessments:
- Before surgery
- 3 months after surgery
- 6 months after surgery Undergo additional examinations:
- 3D intraoral scanning to assess changes in tissue volume
- Cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) to measure gum thickness
- Polarized-light photography to evaluate gum color
- Collection of a small tissue sample (biopsy) for laboratory analysis of tissue structure and cellular composition
Trial Health
Trial Health Score
Automated assessment based on enrollment pace, timeline, and geographic reach
participants targeted
Target at P50-P75 for not_applicable
Started Oct 2021
Typical duration for not_applicable
1 active site
Health score is calculated from publicly available data and should be used for screening purposes only.
Trial Relationships
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Study Timeline
Key milestones and dates
Study Start
First participant enrolled
October 1, 2021
CompletedPrimary Completion
Last participant's last visit for primary outcome
October 1, 2024
CompletedStudy Completion
Last participant's last visit for all outcomes
October 1, 2024
CompletedFirst Submitted
Initial submission to the registry
May 18, 2026
CompletedFirst Posted
Study publicly available on registry
May 22, 2026
CompletedMay 22, 2026
May 1, 2026
3 years
May 18, 2026
May 18, 2026
Conditions
Outcome Measures
Primary Outcomes (1)
Change in peri-implant soft tissue thickness from baseline to 6 months post-augmentation
The primary outcome is the mean change in vertical soft tissue thickness at the implant site, measured at three equidistant points (crest, 1 mm apical, 2 mm apical) along the vestibular aspect of the alveolar ridge. Thickness is assessed using three complementary methods: (1) mucosal puncture with a calibrated spreader and silicone stopper under local anesthesia; (2) superimposition of cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) scans; and (3) comparison of digital 3D intraoral scans (STL files) using GOM Inspect software. Measurements are averaged across the three points per site. The primary analysis compares mean thickness gain between the four intervention groups (palate CTG, tuberosity CTG, Fibro-Gide, FibroMatrix) at 6 months.
Baseline (pre-surgery), 3 months post-surgery, and 6 months post-surgery
Study Arms (4)
Palate CTG
EXPERIMENTALSubepithelial connective tissue graft harvested from the hard palate, placed at the implant site to augment soft tissue thickness and volume
Tuberosity CTG
EXPERIMENTALSubepithelial connective tissue graft harvested from the maxillary tuberosity, placed at the implant site to augment soft tissue thickness and volume
Fibro-Gide
EXPERIMENTALXenogeneic collagen matrix (porcine-derived, types I/III collagen), trimmed and placed between the flap and bone to augment soft tissue
FibroMatrix
EXPERIMENTALXenogeneic collagen matrix (bovine pericardium-derived, types I/III collagen), trimmed and placed between the flap and bone to augment soft tissue
Interventions
Autogenous subepithelial connective tissue graft harvested from the hard palate (premolar-molar region) using a horizontal incision 2-3 mm apical to the gingival margin. Epithelium removed microscopically. Graft secured within a soft-tissue "envelope" at the recipient implant site using U-shaped sutures. Donor site closed with compression sutures.
Autogenous subepithelial connective tissue graft harvested from the maxillary tuberosity using parallel incisions 2 mm distal to the last molar. Epithelial strip removed. Graft placed and secured at the implant site using U-shaped suturing technique. Donor site closed with interrupted sutures.
Porcine-derived xenogeneic collagen matrix (types I/III), 6 mm thick, gamma-sterilized. Trimmed to fit recipient site, placed between flap and bone without suturing to the flap, fully covered by soft tissues during closure. No donor site required.
Bovine pericardium-derived xenogeneic collagen matrix (types I/III), 3-4 mm thick, freeze-dried, bilayer structure. Trimmed to fit recipient site, placed between flap and bone without suturing to the flap, fully covered by soft tissues during closure. No donor site required.
Eligibility Criteria
You may qualify if:
- Age between 21 and 75 years
- Requirement for single dental implant placement in the mandibular molar region (replacing no more than one tooth)
- Need for soft tissue augmentation to achieve peri-implant mucosal thickness ≥2 mm
- Signed voluntary informed consent for treatment and research participation
- Ability and willingness to attend all scheduled follow-up examinations for 12 months post-surgery
- Adequate oral hygiene and commitment to maintain it throughout the study period
You may not qualify if:
- Presence of systemic diseases in a decompensated stage (e.g., uncontrolled diabetes, severe cardiovascular disease)
- Current or prior use of immunosuppressants, bisphosphonates, or high-dose corticosteroids
- History of cancer, radiation therapy, or chemotherapy within 5 years prior to enrollment
- Need for concurrent bone grafting or immediate implant placement following tooth extraction
- Active periodontal disease or untreated oral infections at the time of surgery
- Heavy smoking (\>10 cigarettes/day) or inability to abstain from smoking during the healing period
- Pregnancy or lactation
- Known allergy to collagen, porcine/bovine products, or materials used in the study (sutures, anesthetics)
- Participation in another clinical trial within 30 days prior to enrollment
- Refusal to participate in any stage of the study or inability to comply with study procedures
- Psychological or social conditions that, in the investigator's judgment, may compromise protocol adherence or data reliability
Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.
Sponsors & Collaborators
- Andrey Vasilyevlead
Study Sites (1)
Central Research Institute of Dental and Maxillofacial Surgery
Moscow, 119021, Russia
Study Design
- Study Type
- interventional
- Phase
- not applicable
- Allocation
- RANDOMIZED
- Masking
- SINGLE
- Who Masked
- OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
- Purpose
- TREATMENT
- Intervention Model
- PARALLEL
- Sponsor Type
- OTHER GOV
- Responsible Party
- SPONSOR INVESTIGATOR
- PI Title
- leading researcher
Study Record Dates
First Submitted
May 18, 2026
First Posted
May 22, 2026
Study Start
October 1, 2021
Primary Completion
October 1, 2024
Study Completion
October 1, 2024
Last Updated
May 22, 2026
Record last verified: 2026-05
Data Sharing
- IPD Sharing
- Will not share
Individual participant data (IPD) will not be shared publicly. This decision is based on: (1) the single-center, academic nature of the study with a relatively small sample size, which increases re-identification risk even after de-identification; (2) the inclusion of detailed clinical, radiographic, and histological data that may contain sensitive personal health information; (3) ongoing secondary analyses and manuscript preparations by the investigative team; and (4) the absence of a dedicated infrastructure for secure, governed data sharing at this institution.