title: Flap Designs for Flap Advancement During Implant Therapy: A Systematic Review.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Guided bone regeneration (GBR) procedures allow ridge augmentation before or at time of implant placement. GBR outcomes rely on primary passive tension-free wound closure, which may be achieved by a variety of flap designs and surgical procedures. A comprehensive literature review of flap design and management is provided, including material types, incision design, reflection, releasing, and suturing techniques.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two reviewers completed a literature search using the PubMed database and a manual search of relevant journals. Relevant articles from January 1990 to September 2015 published in the English language were considered.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A variety of flap designs aim to achieve primary passive closure during GBR were introduced. To facilitate case selection and treatment planning, flap designs have been categorized based on their ability to achieve minor (<3 mm), moderate (3-6 mm), and major (≥7 mm) degrees of flap advancement.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Techniques such as vertical releasing incisions, periosteal releasing incisions, and split-thickness flaps may be used alone or combined to achieve passivity during GBR. GBR complications may be prevented by imaging and preoperative planning and careful surgical technique especially flap advancement.
authors.affiliation: *Resident, Department of Periodontics and Oral Medicine, School of Dentistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI. †Professor and Director of Graduate Periodontics, Department of Periodontics and Oral Medicine, School of Dentistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI.
authors.forename: Alexandra B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Plonka
authors.forename: Rachel A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Sheridan
authors.forename: Hom-Lay
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D003757:Dental Implantation / Q000379:methods*; D005881:Gingiva / Q000601:surgery; D016557:Guided Tissue Regeneration, Periodontal / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D011300:Preoperative Care / Q000379:methods; D013524:Surgical Flaps