OSTEOTOMY TIMING OF THE IMPLANT SURGICAL SITE: A COMPARATIVE STUDY IN IMMEDIATELY LOADED IMPLANT CASES

Abstract

This study was performed to compare osteotomy technique of the implant surgical site two weeks before implant placement, with the conventional technique used in immediately loaded implant denture cases. This comparison was carried out using clinical, radiographic, and subjective measures of evaluation.

Six completely edentulous patients were selected from the prosthetic department, Faculty of Dentistry, Alexandria University, for this study. All patients accepted implant overdenture treatment modality.

All patients received new upper and lower complete dentures constructed using the conventional method. Selected patients were planned to have 2 endosseous root-form implants (IMTEC Co, U.S.A). One implant was placed in the left mandibular canine area using the study technique, while the other was placed in the right mandibular canine area using the conventional technique (split-mouth design).

Accordingly, patients were classified .into 2 groups, with each patient being a member in both groups. The groups were as follows:

1. Group I (study group): Lingualized full thickness mucoperiosteal flap was reflected and osteotomy was performed at the mandibular left canine area, then the flap was sutured without placing the implants.

Patients were instructed to have soft diet. Antibiotic, anti­ inflammatory, and mouthwash were prescribed. Sutures were removed after 1 week.

2. Group II (control group): Two weeks after osteotomy in the left mandibular canine area, implant was placed using punch technique. Another implant was placed at • the same time in the right mandibular canine area using the conventional technique. Ball abutments were placed. .

Fitting surfaces of the mandibular dentures were relieved opposite the ball abutments and then filled with cold-cured, self-cmed acrylic resin to allow attachment of the 0-rings and metal keepers in the exact position.