Dental Encyclopedia · Implants
Flapless Implant Surgery
Flapless Implant Surgery
Flapless implant surgery is a method of placing an implant through a small opening without making a wide incision and reflecting the gum. It is known to aim at reducing gum damage and thereby lowering swelling and the burden of recovery.
In plain terms
Put simply, it is a method of placing an implant by making only a small opening, as needed, instead of cutting the gum open at length. A smaller wound is generally known to make recovery easier.
In the conventional method, the gum is incised and reflected so that the bone is seen directly during placement. Because the flapless method creates a small channel instead of an incision, gum damage, bleeding and post-operative swelling are known to tend to be reduced.
Since the flapless method proceeds without viewing the bone directly, 3D CT diagnosis and a guide are often used together to secure accuracy.
Depending on the condition of the gums and the bone, the flapless method may not be suitable, so it does not apply to every patient. Suitability is judged after diagnosis.
Related terms
This entry is for general information. Diagnosis and treatment depend on individual conditions.