Flapless implant surgery: an experimental study.
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.


METHODS
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).


CONCLUSIONS
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.
Jeong
Seung-Mi
SM
Department of Dentistry, Yonsei University Wonju College of Medicine, Wonju, South Korea.
Choi
Byung-Ho
BH
Li
Jingxu
J
Kim
Han-Sung
HS
Ko
Chang-Yong
CY
Jung
Jae-Hyung
JH
Lee
Hyeon-Jung
HJ
Lee
Seoung-Ho
SH
Engelke
Wilfried
W
D016301:Alveolar Bone Loss / Q000209:etiology*; D000539:Alveolar Process / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000601:surgery*; D000818:Animals; D003758:Dental Implantation, Endosseous / Q000379:methods*; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D008336:Mandibular Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D016348:Osseointegration; D013524:Surgical Flaps