# Implant supracrestal complex conditioning through the “x technique” to achieve an enhanced muco-cervical imprint. Case reports

## TL;DR

A new dental technique called the 'X Technique' is described for improving implant aesthetics by conditioning the implant supracrestal complex.

## Contribution

The novel 'X Technique' introduces a surgical-prosthetic protocol to enhance muco-cervical imprint and ISC stability without mucosal grafts.

## Key findings

- The 'X Technique' achieved a reproducible muco-cervical imprint with enhanced peri-implant aesthetics.
- Active oxygen/lactoferrin gel (blue®m) supported ISC health and stability during the procedure.
- The technique preserved supracrestal tissue height and mucosa thickness without additional grafts.

## Abstract

In dentistry, predictable and successful implant treatments demand a comprehensive understanding of the biological mechanisms related to hard and soft tissue changes. The objective of this case reports is to describe in two patients, the conditioning of the implant supracrestal complex (ISC) through the "X Technique", aiming to achieve an enhanced muco-cervical imprint of an individualized emergence profile conformer, reproducible for the emergence profile of the final prosthetic restoration, safeguarding ISC health with the use of active oxygen/lactoferrin gel (blue®m) and ISC stability with the proposed surgical-prosthetic protocol. The technique involves oblique subperiosteal incisions in an "X" pattern with meticulous tissue manipulation to modify peri-implant mucosa phenotype, enhance the buccal contour, and stimulate papilla formation without resorting to additional mucosal grafts. Clinical significance: The technique described offers a promising approach in obtaining a predictable and reproducible muco-cervical imprint or footprint of the prosthetic emergence profile framed within the ISC. Offering to achieve key parameters such as supracrestal tissue height (STH), ISC integrity, muco-cervical imprint stability and implant mucosa thickness (MT) displaying stability. This underscores the effectiveness of the technique in ensuring the sustained health and aesthetics of peri-implant tissues. Further long-term studies are needed to quantify the benefits of this technique in increasing keratinized tissue width (KTW) and MT effectively.