Comparison of submerged and nonsubmerged implants placed without flap reflection in the canine mandible.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to compare the bone healing around submerged and nonsubmerged implants installed in a canine mandible model using a flapless technique.


METHODS
Bilateral, edentulated, flat alveolar ridges were created in the mandibles of 6 mongrel dogs. After 3 months of healing, 2 implants were placed in 1 side by either miniflap submerged or flapless nonsubmerged procedures. After healing for an additional 8 weeks, microcomputerized tomography at the implantation site was performed. Osseointegration was calculated as the percent of the implant surface in contact with bone. Bone height was measured in the peri-implant bone.


RESULTS
The mean osseointegration was greater (64.7%) in miniflap submerged sites than in the flapless nonsubmerged sites (56.8%; P < .05). The mean peri-implant bone height was greater (11.0 mm) in the miniflap submerged sites than in the flapless nonsubmerged sites (10.1 mm; P < .05).


CONCLUSIONS
This study demonstrated that the submerged procedure was more effective than the nonsubmerged procedure in improving implant anchorage in the early phase after implant placement.
Choi
Byung-Ho
BH
Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, College of Dentistry, Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea. choibh@yonsei.ac.kr
Li
Jingxu
J
Kim
Han-Sung
HS
Ko
Chang-Yong
CY
Jeong
Seung-Mi
SM
Xuan
Feng
F
D000818:Animals; D000044:Dental Abutments; D003758:Dental Implantation, Endosseous / Q000379:methods*; D015921:Dental Implants; D003799:Dental Stress Analysis; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D020007:Implants, Experimental; D008334:Mandible / Q000601:surgery; D023421:Models, Animal; D016348:Osseointegration; D011897:Random Allocation; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014945:Wound Healing
D015921:Dental Implants