Expanding soft tissue with Osmed® tissue expanders in the goat maxilla

OBJECTIVES: soft tissue limitations are encountered in implant dentistry, due to the loss of alveolar bone. The aim of this study is to compare the outcome of soft tissue preparation using Osmed self-inflating soft tissue expanders with different in situ times in two implantation techniques. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Osmed self-inflating soft tissue expanders were implanted in goats using a tunnel approach and a flap approach. The animals were sacrificed after 1h (controls) and 40 days (treated). A tattoo technique for stereographic measurements was used to look for soft tissue surface gain. Histological and histomorphometric analyses were performed to quantify and compare the changes in soft tissue volume and bone volume after 1h and 40 days of implantation. RESULTS: after 40 days, the expansion was visible and none of the goats had shown any inflammation. The space between the soft tissue and the bone was filled by the completely expanded expander and surrounding connective tissue. Between the test groups and the control groups, there was no histological difference in the structure of the soft tissue. CONCLUSIONS: all the tissue expanders expanded to their maximum size (2.8 times) and were a reliable product for creating a space between soft tissue and bone. The overlying soft tissue remained in excellent shape. There was no difference in the soft tissue volume and the bone volume between the tunnel and the flap approach after 40 days.