The Connective Tissue Platform Technique for Soft Tissue Augmentation

The presence of a localized alveolar ridge defect, especially in the maxillary anterior dentition, may complicate an esthetic rehabilitation. The goal of this case report is to describe a novel subepithelial connective tissue graft technique for soft tissue augmentation in Class III ridge defects. Surgical intervention consisted of in situ maintenance of a connective tissue "platform" at the edentulous space, which facilitated the stabilization and suturing of the connective tissue grafts used for soft tissue augmentation. Adequate graft thickness to treat the deep horizontal soft tissue loss was obtained by doubling the width of a de-epithelialized free gingival graft that was subsequently folded on itself. The soft tissue conditioning at the level of the pontic began 9 months after surgery by shaping the soft tissue with a bur and filling the space with flowable composite resin applied above the pontic. The final prosthetic phase began 14 months after surgery. A reproduction of the anatomical cementoenamel junction in the provisional and definitive restorations was performed to improve the soft tissue emergence profile. Nine months after surgery, a soft tissue augmentation of 5 mm in the vertical and 4 mm in the horizontal dimension was accomplished. The suggested surgical technique was able to accomplish horizontal and vertical soft tissue augmentation in a single surgical step.