Flap vs. "flapless" surgical approach at immediate implants: a histomorphometric study in dogs.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the remodeling of the alveolar process at implants installed immediately into extraction sockets by applying a flap or a "flapless" surgical approach in a dog model.


METHODS
Implants were installed immediately into the distal alveoli of the second mandibular premolars of six Labrador dogs. In one side of the mandible, a full-thickness mucoperiosteal flap was elevated (control site), while contra-laterally, the mucosa was gently dislocated, but not elevated (test site) to disclose the alveolar crest. After 4 months of healing, the animals were sacrificed, ground sections were obtained and a histomorphometric analysis was performed.


RESULTS
After 4 months of healing, all implants were integrated (n=6). Both at the test and at the control sites, bone resorption occurred with similar outcomes. The buccal bony crest resorption was 1.7 and 1.5 mm at the control and the test sites, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
"Flapless" implant placement into extraction sockets did not result in the prevention of alveolar bone resorption and did not affect the dimensional changes of the alveolar process following tooth extraction when compared with the usual placement of implants raising mucoperiosteal flaps.
Caneva
Marco
M
UNESP, Faculty of Dentistry of Araçatuba (SP), São Paulo State University, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
Botticelli
Daniele
D
Salata
Luiz Antonio
LA
Souza
Sérgio Luis Scombatti
SL
Bressan
Eriberto
E
Lang
Niklaus P
NP
D000539:Alveolar Process / Q000601:surgery*; D000818:Animals; D003238:Connective Tissue / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D000044:Dental Abutments; D003758:Dental Implantation, Endosseous / Q000379:methods*; D015921:Dental Implants; D004285:Dogs; D004846:Epithelial Attachment / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D005881:Gingiva / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D010784:Photomicrography; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D020390:Tooth Socket / Q000601:surgery*
D015921:Dental Implants