[Importance of the masticatory mucosa in the maintenance of healthy peri-implant soft tissues. Review of the literature]

As from the second half of the eighties the researchers' interest for peri-implant soft tissues has increased significantly. In this context studies intended to define the role played by the masticatory mucosa in the maintenance of peri-implant health hold a prominent position. As a matter of fact the frequent need to place implants in areas coated by alveolar mucosa led to focus researchers attention on this topic.