Abstract: After the loss of the posterior teeth, the absorption of alveolar bone leads to insufficient keratinized mucosa (KM), which is a problem often encountered in the process of dental implantation. The KM acts as the first barrier against external stimuli around the implant. Studies have shown that patients with insufficient KM have an increased risk of periimplant diseases, often requiring soft tissue augmentation procedures to increase the width of the KM to maintain longterm stability of the implant. However, the extent to which softtissue augmentation procedures can reduce the risk of periimplant diseases remains unclear. Therefore, it is a hot debate among scholars whether it is necessary to perform soft tissue augmentation procedures patients with insufficient KM. This article will briefly review the effects of periimplant KM on implant restoration and related methods of soft tissue augmentation.

Key words: keratinized mucosa, peri-implant diseases, dental plaque, soft tissue augmentation