Soft Tissue Healing

The preservation and enhancement of peri-implant soft tissues are essential for the long-term success and esthetic integration of dental implants. Customized healing abutments have been introduced to support individualized soft tissue shaping; however, optimizing soft tissue healing around implants remains a clinical challenge. Oxygen plays a critical role in wound healing by promoting angiogenesis, fibroblast proliferation, and collagen synthesis. Topical oxygen therapy has shown promise in accelerating tissue regeneration, yet its application in oral implantology, particularly in conjunction with customized healing abutments, has not been adequately studied. This study aims to provide clinical evidence regarding the effectiveness of topical oxygen therapy in improving linear and volumetric soft tissue changes around dental implants. The findings may guide clinicians in refining soft tissue management protocols and contribute to establishing evidence-based practices in implant dentistry.

In this study, an open healing oral restoration membrane was used for site preservation in the esthetic area after tooth extraction to maintain the space for tooth extraction and bone formation. Clinical observation and cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) were used to comprehensively evaluate the effect of this operation on promoting the growth of soft and hard tissues, and to provide a new treatment method for site preservation in the esthetic area of clinical anterior teeth.

Over the past 20 years, the demand for oral rehabilitation among edentulous patients has steadily increased. Traditionally, individuals with edentulous maxillae were treated using removable complete dentures. However, these often result in poor patient satisfaction due to instability and functional limitations. Dental rehabilitation with implants in the maxillary arch presents unique challenges, primarily due to the anatomical complexity of the maxilla and the need for adequate residual ridge dimensions for successful implant placement. Following the extraction of maxillary teeth, patients experience rapid and progressive alveolar bone loss in both vertical and horizontal dimensions. This resorption is largely attributed to the absence of teeth and periodontal ligament fibers support, which are essential for transmitting mechanical forces that maintain bone homeostasis. In addition, the loss of maxillary molars accelerates pneumatization/expansion of the maxillary sinus, further reducing available bone volume. Contributing factors such as ill-fitting dentures and systemic health conditions can exacerbate this process, complicating implant placement even further. To overcome these limitations, oral and maxillofacial surgeons have developed a range of advanced techniques, including tilted implants, sinus floor elevation, short implants, pterygoid implants, and most notably, zygomatic implants. Zygomatic implants bypass the atrophic alveolar ridge entirely by anchoring into the dense zygomatic bone, offering a reliable solution for patients with severely resorbed maxillae who are not candidates for conventional implant therapy.