Deepithelialized punched tissue for buccal soft tissue augmentation in implant placement

TL;DR

A new technique reuses removed tissue to augment buccal soft tissue during implant placement, avoiding donor site morbidity.

Contribution

A novel, donor-site-free grafting technique using deepithelialized keratinized mucosa in guided implant workflows.

Findings

The technique improved buccal soft tissue thickness without donor site complications.

Both delayed and immediate loading cases showed stable healing and bone levels at 6 months.

Abstract

Adequate buccal soft tissue thickness is essential for long-term implant stability and aesthetics. Conventional augmentation with palatal connective tissue grafts is effective but increases morbidity and surgical time. This report presents a novel technique in which keratinized mucosa, routinely removed during guided implant placement, was preserved, deepithelialized, and reused as an autogenous graft. Two cases were treated: one with delayed loading and one with immediate loading. In both, the graft was placed into a buccal pouch and stabilized with a healing abutment. Clinical and radiographic follow-up showed uneventful healing, improved buccal soft tissue thickness, and stable peri-implant bone levels at 6 months. This technique highlights the feasibility of reusing discarded tissue as a donor-site-free grafting material within guided workflows.

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