Aesthetic outcomes of two different flap designs in anterior implant restorations following guided bone regeneration

Abstract

The outcomes of anterior implant restorations are governed by the position and stability of the implant, the contours of the soft tissue and the type of final restoration. Flap design plays a crucial role for the success of guided bone regeneration procedures at the time of implant placement. In this case report two patients were treated for single tooth replacement in the aesthetic zone by means of an implant supported prosthesis. Treatment included a crestal incision followed by a trapezoidal flap elevation in one patient and triangular flap elevation in the other patient. Clinical and radiographic assessment using CBCT of both the subjects confirmed a deficiency of labial plate; thereby requiring guided bone regeneration at the time of implant placement. Screw-retained provisional restoration was used to achieve a desirable emergence profile, followed by placement of a cemented crown six months thereafter. Patients were clinically and radiographically re-examined after intervals of one week, three months and one year to assess implant survival and complications; hard and soft tissue outcomes. It can be concluded that triangular flap yields better aesthetic soft tissue outcomes when compared with a trapezoidal flap in anterior implant restoration following guided bone regeneration.