Dr. Gustavo Avila-Ortiz, Department of Periodontics, received a $40,000 research grant from BioHorizons Inc. (Birmingham, Alabama) to conduct a study entitled “Comparison of the Efficacy of Two Different Surgical Approaches to Increase Peri-implant Mucosa Thickness: A Randomized Clinical Trial.”

The purpose of this noninferiority trial is to determine the clinical efficacy of a soft tissue allograft (i.e., acellular human dermal matrix) in the augmentation of facial mucosa thickness around an implant as compared to an autologous subepithelial connective tissue graft in human adults. Dr. Christopher Hutton, a second-year resident in the Department of Periodontics, is the main co-investigator; he will use the results of this clinical trial to complete the requirements to obtain his Master of Science degree.

Other co-investigators include Dr. Georgia Johnson, DEO, Department of Periodontics; Dr. Kelsey Tengan, first-year resident, Department of Periodontics; Dr. Chris Barwacz, Department of Prosthodontics and Dows Institute for Research; and Dr. Veerasathpurush Allareddy, Department of Orthodontics.

This study is currently ongoing and is actively recruiting patients. Richard Barwacz is the study coordinator. For further details, visit: www.dentistry.uiowa.edu/ccrcresearch-alloderm.