Application of allogeneic grafts for augmentation of the width of attached gingiva in pre-prosthetic surgery. A literature review

Abstract

Introduction: Pre-prosthetic surgical procedures are intended to eliminate or improve any poor soft- and hard-tissue conditions in preparation of the prosthetic field. Vestibuloplasty continues to be regarded as a predictable and affordable procedure for increase of the prosthetic field, particularly in patients with removable dentures. With the introduction of dental implants, the need for pre-prosthetic surgical preparation of jaws has been considerably reduced, yet certain manipulations are still to be performed, such as increasing of the width of attached gingiva as well as correction of alveolar ridge defects using grafts. Aim: The aim of the present paper is to discuss some of the allogeneic grafts used in soft-tissue augmentation for the purposes of pre-prosthetic surgery, as well as their advantages and disadvantages. Materials and Methods: The present study relied on dental literature data, concerning the application of various allogeneic grafts for enlarging the width of attached gingiva in pre-prosthetic surgery, found in PubMed and Google Scholar, from 1910 to 2021, published in the English language. Results: The publications addressed in this review provide information on the clinical features of allogeneic grafts as a substitute for autogenous grafts, especially in cases where larger size grafts are required or where their harvesting may be limited by various factors. Conclusion: The application of autogenous grafts is supported by good clinical outcomes in the augmentation of the amount of attached keratinized gingiva. However, there are limitations associated with their harvesting. This necessitates the search for substitutes such as allogeneic or xenogeneic grafts, which could deliver similar clinical results.