Evaluation of the effectiveness of platelet-rich plasma therapy in peri-implant soft tissue remodeling

Relevance. Peri-implant soft tissue management remains a frequent clinical challenge in dental practice. Adequate thickness and width of keratinized peri-implant mucosa are essential for the long-term stability and functional performance of implant-supported prosthetic restorations. At present, platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy has emerged as a minimally invasive alternative to conventional soft tissue grafting. The preparation of viable platelets with active growth factors requires the use of specialized collection tubes and a swing-bucket centrifuge. Objective: To evaluate the clinical effectiveness of PRP therapy for peri-implant soft tissue remodeling. Materials and methods . During the study period, 72 dental implants were placed in 56 patients, who were divided into two study groups. In Group 1, peri-implant soft tissue grafting was performed simultaneously with implant placement and healing abutment connection. In Group 2, platelet-rich plasma was administered via four intramucosal injections at peri-implant sites with soft tissue deficiency at weekly intervals. Intergroup comparisons of keratinized mucosa thickness and width were performed using the independent Student’s t-test. Changes in mucosal width were additionally analyzed using two-way repeated-measures analysis of variance (ANOVA), with group, measurement direction, and time as factors. Data are presented as mean ± standard deviation (M ± SD). Results . Three months after implant placement, the thickness of keratinized peri-implant mucosa increased by 1.4 mm in Group 1 and by 1.1 mm in Group 2. The intergroup difference was statistically significant (p < 0.05). In the vestibular direction, changes in keratinized mucosa width did not differ significantly between groups (p > 0.05). In contrast, statistically significant differences were observed in the oral direction (p < 0.05). Although Group 1 demonstrated a greater increase in mucosal width, predominantly on the oral aspect, clinical examination revealed that peri-implant soft tissues in Group 2 appeared denser and more homogeneous. Conclusion. PRP therapy represents an effective and minimally invasive alternative to surgical soft tissue augmentation, providing measurable increases in both the thickness and width of keratinized peri-implant mucosa. The observed improvement in soft tissue firmness suggests enhanced peri-implant mucosal integration; however, long-term clinical outcomes require further investigation. Despite a smaller increase in oral mucosal width compared with surgical grafting procedures, PRP therapy appears to promote the formation of a denser and potentially more stable peri-implant transmucosal seal.