Recession of the buccal soft tissue margin is a frequent complication around dental implants, even when the implant itself is well integrated in bone. This course, presented by Prof. Giovanni Zucchelli, addresses the principles that govern the health, stability, and esthetics of the soft tissue surrounding implants.

The course discusses the biological differences between the soft tissue attachment around a tooth and around an implant, and how those differences affect the risk of recession, the amount of keratinized mucosa needed, and the stability of the peri-implant margin over time. It considers when soft tissue augmentation is most effectively performed, whether at implant placement, at second stage surgery, or as a separate corrective procedure.

Surgical approaches covered include the use of connective tissue grafts and coronally advanced flap techniques to increase soft tissue thickness and keratinized tissue width around implants, with attention to how these procedures are adapted from techniques originally developed for the natural dentition.