ABSTRACT
Purpose@#The various suture techniques can be utilized in order to maximize the keratinized tissue healing around dental implants. The aim of this study is to compare the soft tissue healing pattern between two different suture techniques after implant placement. @*Materials and Methods@#15 patients with 18 implants were enrolled in this study. Simple implant placement without any additional bone graft was performed. Two different suture techniques were used to tug in the mobilized flap near the healing abutment after paramarginal flap design. Digital intraoral scan was performed at baseline, post-operation, stitch out, and 3 months after operation. The scan data were aligned using multiple points such as cusp, fossa of adjacent teeth, and/or healing abutment. After subtracting scan data at baseline with other time-point results, closed space indicating volume increment of peri-implant mucosa was selected. The volume of the close space was measured in mm 3 . The volume between two suture techniques at three time-points was compared using nonparametric rank-based analysis. @*Results@#Healing was uneventful in both groups. Both suture technique groups showed increased soft tissue volume immediately after surgery. The amount of volume increment significantly decreased after 3 months (P 0.05). @*Conclusion@#After paramarginal flap reflection, the raised flaps stabilized by flap folding suture showed relatively higher volume maintenance after 3-month healing period. However, further studies are warranted.
ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: The purpose of present study was to retrospectively analyze the survival rate of narrow diameter implant less than 3.6 mm by initial stability and radiographic measurements. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In total, 24 patients who received 38 narrow diameter implants (≤ 3.6 mm in diameter, ≥ 7 mm in length) were enrolled in this retrospective study. The cumulative survival rate was calculated and various factors were investigated according to the implant platform diameter, body diameter, length, position, concomitant use of guided bone regeneration in implant placement and final prosthesis type. Initial stability was investigated with implant stability quotient (ISQ) value. The mesial and distal marginal bone level (MBL) change was calculated with radiography. RESULTS: The overall survival rate was 92.11%. Mean ISQ value and MBL change of survival implants was 66.26 and 0.14 ± 0.31 mm, respectively. None of the implants with platform diameters larger than the body diameter failed. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, the findings of present study suggest that narrow diameter implant could be predictable treatment in narrow alveolar ridge.