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.

Bone healing around implants following flap and mini-flap surgeries: a radiographic evaluation between stage I and stage II surgery.

Jeong SM, Choi BH, Li J, Ahn KM, Lee SH, Xuan F

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

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to compare the effects of flap and mini-flap implant surgeries on crestal bone changes around dental implants. STUDY DESIGN: A total of 286 implants were placed in 129 patients: 142 implants were placed in 58 patients by using a conventional flap procedure, and 144 implants were placed in 71 patients by using a mini-flap procedure. The 2 groups were evaluated radiographically for postoperative changes in the crestal bone level from the time of placement to the time of exposure (3 to 4 months later). RESULTS: The mean crestal bone loss was 0.26 mm in the flap group and 0.20 mm in the mini-flap group (P > .05). The success rate was 96.5% in the flap group and 100% in the mini-flap group (P < .05). CONCLUSION: The results indicate that when implants are placed using a mini-flap procedure, the mini-flap procedure may increase the success rate.

Published 18 February 2008 in Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol Endod, 105(3): 293-6.
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