Volume 77, Issue 8 p. 1452-1457
Innovation in Periodontic

Maintaining Primary Closure After Guided Bone Regeneration Procedures: Introduction of a New Flap Design and Preliminary Results

Paul A. Fugazzotto

Corresponding Author

Paul A. Fugazzotto

Private practice, Milton, MA.

Correspondence: Dr. Paul A. Fugazzotto, 254 High St., Milton, MA 02186. Fax: 617/696-6635; e-mail: [email protected].Search for more papers by this author
First published: 01 August 2006
Citations: 21

Abstract

Background: Various flap designs have been proposed by numerous authors for the maintenance of passive primary soft tissue closures following guided bone regeneration (GBR) procedures. A previous publication by the present author documented the maintenance of passive soft tissue primary closures 96.1% of the time at least 6 months after GBR therapy in all areas of the mouth. Although seemingly impressive, a 96.1% success rate means that there is premature membrane exposure 3.9% of the time. A new flap design is introduced for use in conjunction with previously described flap designs to lessen the incidence of premature membrane exposure.

Methods: A total of 173 sites treated with GBR therapy were examined up to 6 months postoperatively to assess the ability to maintain passive soft tissue primary closure. Any membrane exposure during this 6-month postoperative period was deemed a failure, even if the site was successfully treated with an implant placement and restoration.

Results: A total of 171 of 173 GBR-treated sites demonstrated the maintenance of a soft tissue passive primary closure 6 months postoperatively, yielding a success rate of 98.8%.

Conclusion: The introduction of the proposed flap design for use in conjunction with previously described flap designs significantly reduced the incidence of premature membrane exposure after a variety of GBR procedures.