ported contradictory data.
Statistically Significant differences in Humans: Amount of Keratinized Tissue Related to
1.5 vs. 0.91*
89 vs. 71*
1.72 vs. 1.24* 4.1-4.9 yrs.
0.72 vs. 0.32* 0.65 vs. 0.41* 13 m
5 yrs.
1.51 vs. 1.26*
0.24 vs. 0.25B -
0.05 vs. 0.07B 0.69 vs. 0.08B* -
0.22 vs. 0.13L*
major differences-multiple regression analysis; † = bleeding scored 0 for absence and 1 for presence; ‡ = attachment loss, bone loss not recorded; B = buccal; L = lingual
between clinical parameters and absence/presence of KG, a pos-
sible explanation for inconsistency in the literature is that with
good oral hygiene, peri-implant soft-tissue health can usually be
maintained if keratinized tissue surrounding implant/restoration
is absent.
5
However, if there is less than good oral hygiene, it may
be advantageous to have KG.
5
Use of the “good hygiene” criterion
is complicated by the fact that defining a threshold that would be
considered less than “good hygiene” is problematic.
After reviewing the literature, Yeung
5
suggested that a case
could be made for augmenting keratinized tissue around implants
to facilitate plaque control by reducing mobile mucosal tissue. To
bolster this contention, he referred to a consensus of opinions ex-
pressed by authors who participated in a debate as to whether KG
was needed around implants. The authors supported the practice
of augmenting keratinized tissue around implant restorations
when practical to minimize complications.
71
In contrast, Esposito
et al
72
concluded in a systematic review that there was insufficient
evidence to recommend increasing KG to maintain peri-implant
health. Since publication of that systematic review several clinical
trials were published.
4,11,50,51,53
They provided mixed results with
respect to the necessity of augmenting keratinized tissue when
comparing studies, and within the same investigation the absence
of KG may or may not have an effect on certain clinical param-
eters. Perplexingly, the data can be interpreted opposite ways. It
could be concluded that a strong case cannot be made for routine
augmentation of keratinized tissue around dental implants when
there is dearth of KG, because there is inconsistency between
studies to indicate that it is detrimental to restore implants when
there is a lack of KG. Furthermore, when there were differences
in the response of clinical parameters at sites with or without KG,
the mean differences were usually small. In contrast, it could be
contended that recent investigations indicated additional bone
4,51
or attachment loss
53
was associated with a dearth of keratinized
tissue. While the increased mean bone loss was usually small
(Table 2), there may be sites where bone loss was substantial.
However, frequency distributions were not provided; therefore,
it is not possible to distinguish how often and to what extent this
occurred or if the data was skewed by a few sites that had extensive
bone loss. It could also be asserted that short-term data (Table 2)
may not reflect the possibility that an inflamed site may continue
to deteriorate and compromise a restoration.
Apparently, for some patients a lack of KG may be a risk factor
for one or more issues: plaque accumulation,
tissue soreness while brushing, increased gin-
gival inflammation, recession, and bone loss.
In this regard, studies are needed to provide
predictive values with respect to how often spe-
cific types of biological problems occur when
KG is lacking. Ultimately, when there is a lack
of keratinized tissue, clinicians need to make
and others where it is unnecessary, and this may vary in different
patients and sites within the same mouth. However, defining spe-
cific situations adjacent to implants (eg, clefting of gingiva, reces-
sion, shallow vestibule, frenum pull) or for particular patients (eg,
thick or thin biotypes) that may benefit from gingival augmenta-
tion has never been investigated. Instead, studies consistently
employed test and control groups with respect to either a dearth
or an adequate band of KG. To provide a perspective as to what
information can be derived from studies and clinical experience,
the impact of a lack of keratinized tissue on peri-implant health
is discussed from several points of view: periodontal response to
plaque adjacent to crown margins on teeth and implants, overall
statistical significance of study findings, and interpretation and
practical application of data to patient management.
In general, subgingival crown margins on teeth predispose pa-
tients to increased plaque accumulation and greater amounts of gin-
gival inflammation than teeth without crowns.
25,62-65
Hypothetically,
the inflammatory reaction around implant restorations may be
worse than around teeth, because tissues surrounding dental im-
plants may be more susceptible to inflammation due to the altered
structure of connective around an implant.
1,26,30
However, this hy-
pothesis is based upon animal studies that assessed the peri-implant
response when hygiene is ceased for months or if ligatures were
placed. These artificially created situations can provide some proof
of principle concepts, but these data cannot be directly extrapolated
to patient management. Furthermore, it needs to be noted that indi-
vidual thresholds of plaque necessary to trigger signs of disease may
vary between patients.
66
Most importantly, investigators reported
that the response of tissues to plaque in patients was similar around
teeth and implants,
67,68
and tissue response around implants was not
problematic even when there was dearth of KG.
20,51,52
Based on these
studies and the above clinical trials relating the level of plaque to
the amount of KG, it cannot be concluded that all patients are more
prone to plaque accumulation due to a lack of KG.
Assessment of the clinical trials relating clinical parameters to
the amount of KG can provide a perspective concerning trends that
have been observed. Inspection of data in Table 2 suggests that in
some studies there is a tendency to find increased inflammation,
recession, and bone loss associated with diminished amounts of
keratinized tissue. However, it is important to note that statisti-
cally significant findings only indicate that the event did not oc-
cur by chance. It does not mean that the outcome was large or
important.
69
Therefore, clinicians need to decide
whether findings in Table 2 are clinically signifi-
cant. Unfortunately, the definition of clinical
significance varies depending on the following
factors: specific clinical field being addressed,
size of the effect, measurement used to evaluate
a therapy, and, ultimately, the clinical importance
of the findings.
70
With respect to the relationship
reLateD cOntent:
Learn more about implants at
dentalaegis.com/go/cced27
29
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October 2011 compendium
a decision to augment or not to increase the band of KG at a site
for that particular individual based on data in the literature, the
patient’s dental history, the unique characteristics of the site
being treated, and the clinician’s experiences.
The literature does not clearly define a patient’s susceptibility to
deterioration in the absence of KG; however, there are situations
where it seems logical that augmentation of KG would be beneficial:
• Chronically inflamed sites, despite oral hygiene instruction
and periodontal therapy. Sometimes it is necessary to alter
the gingival topography to make hygiene easier.
• Locations with ongoing recession or continued loss of clinical
attachment or bone, regardless of periodontal therapy and
good oral hygiene.
• Sites where the patient complains of soreness when brushing,
despite the appearance of gingival health.
• Dental history suggesting predisposition to periodontitis or
recession.
• Patients noncompliant with periodic professional maintenance.
• To improve esthetics.
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