A rationale for attached gingiva at the soft-tissue/implant interface: esthetic and functional dictates.

For many years, the ultimate goal of the periodontal/restorative team was to provide an environment for crowns that would provide long-term, successful results. Two essential goals of periodontal therapy were pocket elimination and an adequate zone of keratinized gingiva. The establishment of an adequate zone of keratinized gingiva, which is firmly attached to the underlying periosteum and osseous tissues, is critical for the long-term functional and esthetic results of implant restorative dentistry. Five cases are presented that illustrate the clinical management of soft tissue to achieve functional and esthetic zones of keratinized gingiva.