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

Abstract

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.