Implant placement without flaps: a single-stage surgical protocol--Part 1.

Osseointegrated implants have been demonstrated to be predictable, efficacious means of restoring aesthetics and long-term function to edentulous patients. Although the surgical and placement protocols for the use of implant therapy have continued to evolve, specific criteria must be addressed when utilizing this modality. The objective of this article is to describe the requisites for proper implant placement and demonstrate the use of a novel surgical protocol to insert implant fixtures in selected edentulous sites with a mucosal tissue punch rather than a conventional flap elevation procedure.