Bone loss after full-thickness and partial-thickness flap elevation.
OBJECTIVE
the aim of this study was to histologically assess whether elevation of partial-thickness flaps results in reduced bone alterations, as compared with full-thickness flap preparations.


METHODS
in five beagle dogs, both mandibular second premolars (split-mouth design) were subjected to one of the following treatments: Tx1: elevation of a partial-thickness flap over the mesial root of P(2) and performing a notch at the height of the bone. Tx2: elevation of a full-thickness flap over the mesial root of P(2) and performing a notch at the height of the bone. After 4 months, sections were evaluated for: (i) vertical bone loss and (ii) osteoclastic activity using histometry.


RESULTS
elevation of both full- and partial-thickness flaps results in bone loss and elevated osteoclastic activity. Partial-thickness flaps can result in less bone loss than full-thickness flaps, but are subject to some variability.


CONCLUSIONS
use of partial-thickness flaps does not prevent from all bone loss. The procedure may result most of the times in less bone loss than the elevation of full-thickness flaps. Further research has to evaluate the determinants of effective outcomes of partial-thickness flap procedures.
Department of Periodontology, Julius-Maximilians-University, Würzburg, Germany. fickl_s@klinik.uni-wuerzburg.de
Stefan
S
Fickl
Moritz
M
Kebschull
Peter
P
Schupbach
Otto
O
Zuhr
Ulrich
U
Schlagenhauf
Markus B
MB
Hürzeler
D016301:Alveolar Bone Loss / Q000209:etiology*; D000818:Animals; D016723:Bone Remodeling / Q000502:physiology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004285:Dogs; D005881:Gingiva / Q000601:surgery*; D008334:Mandible; D019647:Oral Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects*; D010521:Periosteum / Q000601:surgery*; D013524:Surgical Flaps / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014716:Vertical Dimension