Vestibuloplasty

Vestibuloplasty is an oral surgical procedure designed to deepen the vestibular sulcus by releasing muscle attachments and repositioning soft tissue. The primary aim is to increase sulcus depth to improve denture retention and function, and to facilitate subsequent periodontal or implant therapies when adequate tissue depth is required.

Indications include a shallow oral vestibule in edentulous patients, hypermobile or scarred mucosa, high frena with denture displacement, and preparation for implant-supported prostheses or extensive periodontal procedures. Contraindications include active infection, uncontrolled systemic disease, poor oral hygiene, smoking, or insufficient patient cooperation.

Techniques vary but share the goal of loosening anterior muscle attachments, creating a recipient bed, and repositioning mucosa apically. Common approaches involve mucosal incisions along the mucogingival junction, submucosal dissection, and suturing the mucosa to the periosteum at the desired depth. In grafting variants, a graft from the palate or another donor site is placed to maintain depth and support healing; healing may be with graft take or secondary epithelialization. Laser or simplified flap techniques are used in select cases.

Postoperative care emphasizes soft diet, oral hygiene, chlorhexidine rinses, and avoidance of trauma to the operated area. Sutures are typically removed within 1–2 weeks. Outcomes are generally favorable when a stable vestibule is achieved and patients comply with instructions, though relapse, scar formation, infection, or graft failure can occur.