Soft Tissue Substitutes to Increase the Thickness of Attached Gingiva: An Animal Study

Abstract

Abstract Background:This study aims to compare the histological and thickness changes of attached gingiva following grafting with three groups of different soft tissue substitutes at labial aspect of canines. Methods: In three beagle dogs, attached gingival thickening was performed with double layer allogeneic acellular dermal matrix membrane (AADM), bovine acellular dermal matrices membrane (BADM) combined with concentrated growth factor membrane (CGF) or BADM combined with collagen sponge. Thickness was measured before augmentation (baseline [BL]), and after 1, 2, 3, and 4 months. Descriptive histological analyses were performed after 4 months.Results: Four months post-operatively, thickness increase differed significantly among three groups (AADM: 1.88±0.28 mm; BADM combined with CGF: 0.27±0.19 mm; BADM combined with collagen sponge: 0.10±0.11 mm). Compared to BL, AADM group showed significant difference (3.24±0.22 mm vs. 1.36±0.72 mm), while the BADM combined with CGF group showed no significant difference (1.50±0.07 mm vs. 1.23±0.15 mm) and neither of the BADM combined with collagen sponge group (1.54±0.15 mm vs. 1.44±0.15 mm). Histological analyses revealed that AADM was integrated with gingival tissues, and new fibrous tissue and blood vessels were formed. But the grafts in the other two groups were absorbed and the augmentation area was remodeled into a structure consistent with the surrounding host tissue.Conclusions: . AADM is superior to BADM combined with CGF and BADM combined with collagen sponge with regard to gingival augmentation.