Buccal mucous membrane-fat graft in the management of the contracted socket.

A new surgical technique for reconstructing severely contracted sockets using an autogenous buccal mucous membrane-fat graft is presented. The buccal mucosa provides replacement of deficient conjunctival surface area; the fat in the underlying substantia propria of the buccal mucosa replenishes moderate volume deficiency in a single procedure. A custom-designed conformer is used in the immediate postoperative period to maintain reconstructed vertical fornices. We present four consecutive patients with contracted sockets having both a volume deficit and severe conjunctival contracture who were successfully rehabilitated using this technique.