Comparative study between two different flap designs on peri-implant interproximal crestal bone loss around a single implant in the pre-loading stage

Abstract EN

Background : Today, one of the most challenging aspects of esthetic implant modalities is to obtain a predictable peri-implant papilla in the esthetic zone starting with the facts about the morphology of peri-implant tissues, to various parameters influencing papilla reconstruction around implants.

Objective: This prospective study investigates the interproximal alveolar Cristal bone loss occurring after placement of mandibular single posterior implant using two different flap designs.

Patients and Methods: Ten patients were included in this study (6 females and 4 males) with missing posterior mandibular teeth, their age ranged between twenty to forty years.

The designed flap was performed with a conventional wide type flap on the distal side of the implant and records obtained from this side were referred to as group I, while the mesial side of the same implant was performed with a limited or a papillary preserved flap and records obtained from this side were referred to as group II.

Each patient was evaluated clinically and radiographically at immediate, 1.5,3 and 6 months post-operatively.

Results : There was high rate of Cristal bone loss in group one with widely mobilized flap compared with that in group two of limited flap design throughout the follow up periods.

Conclusions : The use of a limited flap design (papillary preserved flap) for single-tooth implants is indicated to avoid possible loss of interdentally papillae and to minimize interproximal Cristal bone loss with subsequent implant exposure.

During application of the conventional flap, it is better to insert the implantlmm beneath the cortex by about to compensate the amount of bone loss during healing stage.