title: Split palatal flap. II. A surgical approach for maxillary implant uncovering in cases with reduced keratinized tissue: technique and clinical results.
abstract: It is generally accepted that a more ideal and functional soft tissue-implant interface can be established if there is an adequate zone of keratinized mucosa around endosseous dental implants. The purpose of this article was to describe a surgical procedure, based on the use of a split palatal flap, which predictably creates or increases the zone of keratinized tissue around implants at the time of implant uncovering. It is especially useful for maxillary implants with a nonexistent or minimal width of keratinized buccal tissue. The study comprised 34 implants in the maxillae of 8 patients, who were chosen because they had minimal or nonexistent buccal keratinized gingiva prior to implant uncovering. Following healing, between 2 and 5 mm of keratinized gingiva (mean 3.7 mm) could be measured buccally at all abutments. Postsurgical inconveniences were minimal. The use of a split palatal flap at implant uncovering minimizes the number of surgical stages and sites necessary, while predictably providing an adequate zone of buccal keratinized gingiva.
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontology, Maurice and Gabriela Goldschleger School of Dental Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Israel. carlos@post.tau.ac.il
authors.forename: C E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Nemcovsky
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Artzi
mesh_terms: D003238:Connective Tissue / Q000737:chemistry / Q000637:transplantation; D003758:Dental Implantation, Endosseous / Q000379:methods*; D005881:Gingiva / Q000637:transplantation*; D006801:Humans; D007633:Keratins; D008437:Maxilla; D013524:Surgical Flaps
chemical_list: D007633:Keratins