Preaugmentation Soft Tissue Expansion: A Report of Four Pilot Cases. (19th April 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Asa'ad, Farah; Bellucci, Gionata; Ferrantino, Luca; Trisciuoglio, Davide; Taschieri, Silvio; Del Fabbro, Massimo
• Other Names: Gómez-Moreno Gerardo Academic Editor.
• Is Part Of: Case reports in dentistry. Volume 2018(2018)
• Publication Date: 2018-04-19
• Subjects: Dentistry -- Case studies -- Periodicals; Oral medicine -- Case studies -- Periodicals; Oral Medicine; Dentistry; Dentistry; Oral medicine; Electronic journals; Periodical; Case studies; Periodicals; Case Reports; Fulltext; Internet Resources; Periodicals; 617.6
• DOI: 10.1155/2018/3162617
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2090-6447

Abstract

Abstract : This pilot study aimed at investigating the safety and feasibility of pre-augmentation soft tissue expansion (STE). Tissue expanders of different sizes (from 240 to 1300 mm 3 ) were implanted subperiosteally in four patients requiring vertical and/or horizontal bone augmentation, and left in situ for 20–60 days, according to the expander size. Guided bone regeneration was carried out after STE completion. Horizontal and vertical bone gains were analyzed through CBCT. Optical scanning and superimposition of cast models were used for volumetric analysis. The mean soft tissue volume increase was 483.8 ± 251.7 mm 3 . Horizontal bone gain averaged 3 mm in two successfully expanded sites while one case had a vertical bone gain of 8 mm. Despite promising outcomes in bone and soft tissue gain, the present technique needs improvement before being applied routinely in everyday dental practice.