Dental Implants Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Dental Implants, including details on dentistry, surgery, tooth implants.

Flapless implant surgery: an experimental study.

Jeong SM, Choi BH, Li J, Kim HS, Ko CY, Jung JH, Lee HJ, Lee SH, Engelke W

Department of Dentistry, Yonsei University Wonju College of Medicine, Wonju, South Korea.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of flapless implant surgery on crestal bone loss and osseointegration in a canine mandible model. STUDY DESIGN: In 6 mongrel dogs, bilateral, edentulated, flat alveolar ridges were created in the mandible. After 3 months of healing, 2 implants in each side were placed by either flap or flapless procedures. After a healing period of 8 weeks, microcomputerized tomography at the implantation site was performed. Osseointegration was calculated as percentage of implant surface in contact with bone. Additionally, bone height was measured in the peri-implant bone. RESULTS: The mean osseointegration was greater at flapless sites (70.4%) than at sites with flaps (59.5%) (P < .05). The mean peri-implant bone height was greater at flapless sites (10.1 mm) than at sites with flaps (9.0 mm) (P < .05). CONCLUSION: Flapless surgery can achieve results superior to surgery with reflected flaps. The specific improvements of this technique include enhanced osseointegration of dental implants and increased bone height.

Published 19 June 2007 in Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol Endod, 104(1): 24-8.
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