Tavelli L, Kripfgans O D, Chan H-L et al. Doppler ultrasonographic evaluation of tissue revascularization following connective tissue graft at implant sites. J Clin Periodontol 2023; DOI: 10.1111/jcpe.13889.

The main differences in tissue perfusion between CAF and TUN were observed at the interproximal sites.

This study assessed the Doppler ultrasonographic tissue perfusion at dental implant sites augmented with connective tissue graft (CTG) using coronally advanced flap (CAF) or tunnel technique (TUN). Twenty-eight patients presenting with isolated healthy peri-implant soft-tissue dehiscence (PSTD) were included in this randomised clinical trial. PSTDs were treated with either CAF + CTG or TUN + CTG. Ultrasound scans were taken and tissue perfusion assessed by colour Doppler velocity (CDV) and power Doppler imaging (PDI). Early vascularisation of the graft and the flap at 1 week and at 1 month were evaluated via dynamic tissue perfusion measurements (DTPMs), including flow intensity (FI), mean perfusion relief intensity (pRI) and mean perfused area (pA). Regression analysis did not reveal significant differences in terms of mid-facial CDV and PDI changes between CAF and TUN over 12 months, while significant differences were observed at interproximal areas. Higher early DTPMs were observed at the TUN-treated sites compared with CAF-treated sites at 1 week. Assessment of the FI direction showed that CTG perfusion at 1 week and at 1 month mainly occurred from the flap towards the implant/bone. Outcomes were associated with the 12-month mean PSTD coverage and mucosal thickness gain.