Mucogingival approach to implant placement in the maxillary area: A case series

Introduction: Implant placement in the maxillary region presents unique surgical and prosthetic challenges due to high esthetic demands and the frequent presence of bone and soft-tissue deficiencies. The recently proposed mucogingival approach combines principles of regenerative and mucogingival surgery with implant placement to optimize peri-implant soft-tissue outcomes. Aim: The paper aimed to describe the surgical protocol and short-term clinical outcomes of three implant cases placed with the mucogingival approach in different clinical scenarios: early-delayed, delayed, and immediate placement. Methods: Three patients with single-tooth edentulism in the maxillary region were treated with mucogingival approach, involving a split-full-split coronally advanced buccal flap, connective-tissue grafting, and prosthetic soft-tissue conditioning. All patients received transmucosal implants (TRI Octa, Switzerland). Results: All implants osseointegrated successfully and maintained stable crestal bone levels at 6-12 months. The peri-implant mucosa exhibited satisfactory thickness, height, and papillary fill, with favorable esthetic outcomes. Conclusion: The mucogingival approach is a versatile and effective technique for implant placement in the maxillary area, enabling simultaneous management of soft-tissue deficiencies and correction of adjacent mucogingival problems. Controlled clinical studies with longer follow-ups are warranted to further validate these findings.