title: Flapless implant surgery: an experimental study.
abstract: 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.
authors: Department of Dentistry, Yonsei University Wonju College of Medicine, Wonju, South Korea.
authors: Seung-Mi
authors: SM
authors: Jeong
authors: Byung-Ho
authors: BH
authors: Choi
authors: Jingxu
authors: J
authors: Li
authors: Han-Sung
authors: HS
authors: Kim
authors: Chang-Yong
authors: CY
authors: Ko
authors: Jae-Hyung
authors: JH
authors: Jung
authors: Hyeon-Jung
authors: HJ
authors: Lee
authors: Seoung-Ho
authors: SH
authors: Lee
authors: Wilfried
authors: W
authors: Engelke
mesh_terms: 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