The "Washing Line" Suture Technique for Securing the Subepithelial Connective Tissue Graft

Following tooth extraction, resorption of the buccal wall of the socket will occur; this will be true for both the maxilla and the mandible. Where the extraction site is surrounded by natural dentition, the loss of the buccal alveolar plate can degrade the visual aesthetics of an implant-supported prosthetic rehabilitation. To aid the harmonization of the hard and soft tissue morphology, both hard and soft tissue augmentation can be carried out either consecutively with an extraction/immediate implant placement or prior to an implant placement in the delayed scenario. The contemporary method of increasing soft tissue volume is to use the Subepithelial Connective Tissue (auto) Graft (the SCTG). The graft requires fixation, otherwise it can be extruded from the recipient site. This article presents a novel suturing technique which can confidently secure the SCTG, thus resisting its dislodgement.