I-shaped incisions for papilla reconstruction in second stage implant surgery.
OBJECTIVE
Pink gingival esthetic especially on the anterior teeth has been an important success criterion in implant-supported restoration. Inter-implant papillae are a critical factor for implant esthetics, and various techniques for inter-implant papilla reconstruction have been introduced. The aim of this study is to suggest and evaluate a surgical technique for reconstructing inter-implant papillae.


METHODS
A 28-year-old man had an implant placed on the #13 and #14 area. Four months after implant placement, a second stage surgery was planned for inter-implant papilla reconstruction. At the time of the abutment connection, I-type incisions were performed on the #13i & #14i area followed by full-thickness flap elevation and connection of a healing abutment on underlying fixtures without suture.


RESULTS
Two weeks after the second stage implant surgery, soft tissue augmentation between the two implants was achieved.


CONCLUSIONS
I-shaped incisions for papilla reconstruction performed during the second stage implant surgery were useful for inter-implant papilla reconstruction and showed a good esthetic result.
Lee
Eun-Kwon
EK
Department of Periodontology, Kyung Hee University School of Dentistry, Seoul, Korea.
Herr
Yeek
Y
Kwon
Young-Hyuk
YH
Shin
Seung-Il
SI
Lee
Dong-Yeol
DY
Chung
Jong-Hyuk
JH