Dental Implant Gum Incision Types To Understand

27 April 2017
 Categories: Dentist, Blog

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Dental implants require your dentist to gain direct access to your jaw bone so a hole can be created and an implant root can be added to the bone. Before the bone can be revealed, gum tissues must be cut away. You may wonder exactly how this is done to reduce tissue damage. Well, gum cutting may occur in a few different ways. Keep reading to learn about the techniques.

Flap Creation

Traditional dental implantation occurs with the creation of a gum flap. A flap is created with one or two incisions and the gums are lifted up to expose the bone underneath. Single incision flaps are formed when your dentist wants to retain the aesthetics of your mouth. If the dental implant is being placed towards the front of the mouth, then the single incision will be more likely. Also, the incisions are completed where there is a good deal of healthy gum tissue in the region. This allows the dental professional to stretch and pull the gums aside without risking a serious gum deterioration or thinning issue.

Two incision flaps are created where the gum tissues are thinner and when dental implants are needed towards the side or back of the mouth. Also, if you need a bone graft procedure, then a larger flap will be formed so your dentist has more room to access the jaw. 

In general, your dentist will look at a number of factors when determining the type of flap that is best for your surgery. In some cases, a triple incision flap will be needed, but this is only necessary when a good deal of tissue needs to be moved, like when large bone grafts are required. 

Punch Incisions

If you are in good health, young, and have an ample amount of gum tissue across your mouth, then a punch incision may be completed instead. Punching involves the circular removal of gum tissues above the implant insertion site. Basically, the incision looks like a hole punch was used to extract the tissue.

Punch incisions allow for easy and clear access to the jaw bone underneath. Also, the incision type does not require any stitches. However, the sides of the punch will be open. This means that you will need to clean the area thoroughly to prevent an infection. Also, you will need to watch out for swelling issues as well as the shifting of the gum tissues. Fortunately, the gums do heal quickly so infection risks are minimal. 

For more questions about the procedure for implants, contact a company like Summit Oral Surgery.