Dimensional Changes of the Peri-Implant Mucosa Applying a Suture-Free Wound Closure Using a Healing Abutment Attachment: A Randomised Controlled Clinical Trial.

AIM: To compare peri-implant soft-tissue dimensional changes following wound closure using a suture-free healing abutment attachment (HAA) compared to conventional suturing during implant surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty patients who were randomly allocated to the HAA group (15 patients, 20 implants) or the suture group (15 patients, 15 implants) were analysed. Clinical parameters including keratinised tissue width (KTW), buccal supracrestal tissue height (STH) and surgery time (seconds) were recorded at posterior maxillary and mandibular implant sites during surgery and over a 6-month follow-up period. RESULTS: The HAA group demonstrated significantly less decrease in KTW compared to the suture group (-0.46 ± 0.71 mm vs. -1.23 ± 0.95 mm at implant level, p < 0.05). The extent of STH increase over 6 months was numerically higher in the HAA group than in the suture group (0.95 ± 0.47 vs. 0.59 ± 0.67 mm), and the difference was statistically significant (p < 0.05). The time required for flap stabilisation was significantly shorter in the HAA group (43.73 s vs. 198.27 s, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Applying the suture-free HAA was more time-efficient and could reduce buccal keratinised tissue shrinkage compared to the traditional wound closure by suturing.