Volumetric changes at pontic sites with or without soft tissue grafting: a controlled clinical study with a 10-year follow-up.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate volumetric changes of soft tissues at pontic sites in patients treated with or without soft tissue grafting over an observation period of 10 years.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 17 patients receiving a tooth-borne fixed dental prosthesis (FDP) were enrolled in this study. Nine patients received a subepithelial connective tissue graft (SCTG) at the pontic site (test). Eight patients continued without soft tissue grafting (control). Baseline impressions were taken after delivery of the final FDP and at 10 years. Casts were scanned and digital images were superimposed for volumetric and linear measurements: the mean distance (MD) between the surfaces at the mid-buccal area, the pontic height (PH) and the ridge width (RW). All comparisons were performed applying the Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney test.

RESULTS: The median follow-up time was 123 months. Median MD between baseline and 10 years was -0.64 mm (Min: -2.39; Max: -0.02) (test) and -0.22 mm (Min: -1.07; Max: 0.06) (control). The change of PH (recession) was -0.33 mm (Min: -0.82; Max: 0.06) (test) and -0.17 mm (Min: -0.8; Max: 0.23) (control). The median differences in RW 1 mm below the crest were -0.62 mm (Min: -1.17; Max: 0.22) (test) and -0.2 mm (Min: -1.9; Max: 0.28) (control). None of the differences between the groups were significant (p > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS: Limited by a retrospective study design, pontic sites with or without soft tissue augmentation by means of a SCTG underlie minimal changes over an observation period of 10 years.