Subcrestal incision: An alternative flap design for dental implant placement - A randomized controlled split-mouth design clinical trial.

OBJECTIVE

This randomized controlled trial aimed at comparing a novel incision design with a conventional mid-crestal incision design for implant placement to achieve complete closure of the surgical site.

BACKGROUND

Proper flap margin approximation is pivotal for surgical wound healing in patients undergoing dental implant treatment with or without bone augmentation.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A clinical study was conducted at the department of implantology with a total number of 30 patients. Patients with bilateral edentulous sites for whom dental implant placement was planned were included in the study. Mid-crestal incision design on one side and subcrestal incision design on other side were performed. Healing was evaluated at 1- and 4-week intervals postoperatively using an early wound healing score (EHS). The pain perception from the patient was also noted after 1 week on the day of suture removal using Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) values ranging from 0 to 10.

RESULTS

Wound healing in the subcrestal incision design sites were showing higher EHS at 1-week and 4-week intervals, which was statistically significant when compared to the sites with mid-crestal incision design. VAS values were also showing higher pain perception toward mid-crestal incision design over subcrestal incision design.

CONCLUSION

With the limitations of the present study, it can be concluded that subcrestal incision design stands as a promising flap design over mid-crestal incision design for dental implant placement.