Evaluation of custom-made 3D printed polylactic acid/polyethylene glycol scaffolds in soft tissue augmentation: an experimental study in a canine model.

OBJECTIVES: Histological and histomorphometric evaluation of the efficacy of custom-made three-dimensional (3D) printed poly-lactic acid (PLA)/ polyethylene glycol (PEG) scaffolds in horizontal soft tissue augmentation compared to connective tissue grafts (CTG) in Mongrel dogs. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Horizontal ridge defects were created after tooth extraction in 12 dogs, then randomly allocated to one of the 3 study groups. 1 month after the first surgery, defects were augmented using custom-made 3D printed PLA/PEG scaffolds, or CTG or were left empty. 6 dogs were sacrificed after 1 month post-operatively, and 6 dogs after 3 months. Samples were collected for histologic evaluation. RESULTS: PLA/PEG and CTG groups successfully augmented soft tissue thickness. Histomorphometrically, fibroblast count (FC) was significantly higher in PLA/PEG group at both time points in comparison to CTG (p = 0.002 and 0.007) and control groups (p = 0.001 and 0.016). Percentage of collagen surface area (%CSA) was significantly higher in PLA/PEG group compared to other groups at 1 month (p = 0.021 and 0.001), however, it was higher in CTG group at 3 months (p = 0.024 and 0.003). CONCLUSIONS: 3D printed custom-made PLA/PEG scaffolds are an easy, effective, and safe method for soft tissue volume augmentation. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The use of 3D printed scaffolds with properly designed internal structure guides the type of tissues regenerated and eliminates the need for CTG with its higher morbidity and complications.