Transalveolar fixation of the peri-implant soft tissue in the mandible: surgical method and clinical follow-up.
OBJECTIVE
Firm, immobile mucosa around endosteal implants is one prerequisite for a reliable long-term result. In the atrophic mandible, this may be achieved by a vestibuloplasty on the facial side. However, on the lingual side, the floor of the mouth is often high and the mucosa mobile, especially after unintentional detachment of the lingual flap during implant surgery. To overcome this problem, a surgical technique applying a transalveolar suture circumscribing the inserted implants was developed.


METHODS
The operation was performed in six patients, and they were evaluated over a period of more than 18 months.


RESULTS
There was a clinically significant increase in fixed mucosa behind the implants compared with a control group of six patients with a similar preoperative and intraoperative status.


CONCLUSIONS
A localized lowering of the floor of the mouth limited to the peri-implant region using this technique can successfully improve the lingual mucosa around implants.
Lauer
G
G
Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University of Freiburg, Germany.
Schwarz
U
U
Schilli
W
W
D000368:Aged; D000539:Alveolar Process / Q000601:surgery; D001284:Atrophy; D003758:Dental Implantation, Endosseous; D015921:Dental Implants; D019094:Dental Prosthesis, Implant-Supported; D003828:Denture, Overlay; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007575:Jaw, Edentulous / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008334:Mandible / Q000601:surgery*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009060:Mouth Floor / Q000601:surgery; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000601:surgery*; D011098:Polyglactin 910; D013536:Suture Techniques; D013537:Sutures; D014727:Vestibuloplasty
D015921:Dental Implants; D011098:Polyglactin 910