Use of the Free Gingival Graft as a Pre-prosthetic Procedure
Introduction:
One objective of periodontal plastic surgery is the creation
ofadequate vestibular depth and an increase in the keratinized tissue. The
keratinized tissue provides increased resistanceto the periodontium,
contributes to the
stabilization of the gingival margin position, and aids in the dissipation
of physiological forces that are exerted by the muscular fibers of the alveolar
mucosa. Improvement of oral hygiene was seen with the increase in keratinized
tissue.The free gingival graft (FGG) is known to be one of the most common and
predictable methods for augmenting
gingival tissue dimensions, and FGG was applied as a
preprosthetic procedure in two cases. In the first case, FGG was used to
overcome the patient’s discomfort and to achieve a better condition around the
abutments and pontic area for the fixed prosthesis. In the second case report,
the modified FGG technique was used to achieve a greater increase in
keratinized tissue using less donor tissue by placing the graft material in the
most apical way with the periosteum coronal exposed to the graft.
A 58-year-old female was referred, seeking treatment for the
mandibular left posterior area. The patient had a non-contributory medical
history and was not taking any medications associated with a compromised bone-healing
response. The patient complained of discomfort during tooth brushing. Clinical
examinations revealed that the
mandibular left first molar was missing, and restoration of the missing
are was planned using a 3-unit fixed prosthesis. The keratinized tissue on the
buccal side was less than 1mm and the clinical probing depths ranged from 2 to
3m. Plaque could be seen and isolated bleeding spots were noticed when a North
Carolina periodontal probe (HuFriedy, Chicago, IL) was passed along the mucosal
margin. Soft tissue graft from the palate was planned after consulting with the
patient about the treatment period and the possible complications, and after an
informed consent was achieved.
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