Transplantation of Tissue Engineered Autogenous Keratinocyte Grafts for Peri- Implant Soft Tissue Augmentation

For a good functional and esthetic longterm result of implant therapy, often soft tissue augmentation procedures have to be performed. Connective tissue grafts and free gingival grafts are recommended as standard procedures to create a stable peri-implant surrounding. Disadvantages are the morbidity and the size limitation of the donor site area. Alternatively a gingival biopsy can be harvested for tissue engineering of an autogenous keratinocyte graft. The in vitro cultured keratinocytes are placed on top of the wound site after peri-implant vestibuloplasty. The clinical results show that transplantation of in vitro cultured autogenous keratinocytes are an additional alternative for soft-tissue augmentation and may replace soft tissue grafts in selectedindications. Keywords: tissue engineering, dental implants, soft tissue, oral rehabilitation