Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Review
. 2024 Aug;35(8):922-938.
doi: 10.1111/clr.14238. Epub 2024 Feb 2.

The use of digital technologies in peri-implant soft tissue augmentation - A narrative review on planning, measurements, monitoring and aesthetics

Franz Josef Strauss  1   2 , Alfonso Gil  1 , Rawen Smirani  1   3   4 , Amanda Rodriguez  5 , Ronald Jung  1 , Daniel Thoma  1
Affiliations
Review

The use of digital technologies in peri-implant soft tissue augmentation - A narrative review on planning, measurements, monitoring and aesthetics

Franz Josef Strauss et al. Clin Oral Implants Res. 2024 Aug.

Abstract

Objective: To identify the different uses and modalities of digital technologies to diagnose, plan and monitor peri-implant soft tissue conditions and aesthetics.

Methods: A comprehensive narrative review of pertinent literature was conducted, critically appraising key digital technologies that may assist peri-implant soft tissue augmentation and assessment. An electronic search on four databases including studies published prior to 1st July 2023 was performed and supplemented by a manual search.

Results: Predominantly, tools such as cone beam computed tomography (CBCT), intraoral scanning (iOS), intraoral ultrasonography and digital spectrophotometry were commonly to assess and monitor peri-implant soft tissues. The main clinical and research applications included: (i) initial assessment of mucosal thickness, supra-crestal tissue height and keratinized mucosa width, (ii) evaluation of peri-implant soft tissue health and inflammation, (iii) monitoring profilometric changes and midfacial mucosal margin stability over time and (iv) aesthetic evaluation through colour assessment. While evidence for some digital tools may be limited, the integration of digital technologies into peri-implant soft tissue management holds great promise. These technologies offer improved precision, comfort and speed in assessment, benefiting both patients and clinicians.

Conclusion: As digital technologies progress, their full potential in peri-implant soft tissue augmentation and their value will become more evident with ongoing research. Embracing these innovations and their potential benefits is recommended to ensure that during progress in implant dentistry, patient care is not hindered.

Keywords: autografts; dental implants; diagnosis; digital; digital workflow; patient‐reported outcomes; prosthodontics; soft tissue.

PubMed Disclaimer

References

REFERENCES

    1. Abdinian, M., Aminian, M., & Seyyedkhamesi, S. (2018). Comparison of accuracy between panoramic radiography, cone‐beam computed tomography, and ultrasonography in detection of foreign bodies in the maxillofacial region: An in vitro study. Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, 44(1), 18–24. https://doi.org/10.5125/jkaoms.2018.44.1.18
    1. Ahmad, I. (2009). Digital dental photography. Part 1: An overview. British Dental Journal, 206(8), 403–407. https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.bdj.2009.306
    1. Arunyanak, S. P., Pollini, A., Ntounis, A., & Morton, D. (2017). Clinician assessments and patient perspectives of single‐tooth implant restorations in the esthetic zone of the maxilla: A systematic review. The Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry, 118(1), 10–17. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.prosdent.2016.10.036
    1. Avila‐Ortiz, G., Couso‐Queiruga, E., Pirc, M., Chambrone, L., & Thoma, D. S. (2023). Outcome measures and methods of assessment of soft‐tissue augmentation interventions in the context of dental implant therapy: A systematic review of clinical studies published in the last 10 years. Clinical Oral Implants Research, 34(Suppl 25), 84–96. https://doi.org/10.1111/clr.13927
    1. Barootchi, S., Tavelli, L., Majzoub, J., Chan, H. L., Wang, H. L., & Kripfgans, O. D. (2022). Ultrasonographic tissue perfusion in peri‐implant health and disease. Journal of Dental Research, 101(3), 278–285. https://doi.org/10.1177/00220345211035684

Substances

LinkOut - more resources