Objectives: The objective of this study was to compare the placement of flapped vs. flapless dental implants utilizing clinical and immunological parameters.
Subjects and methods: A total of 10 patients were received 20 dental implants. One quadrant in each patient was randomly assigned to control group while other to test group with the help of coin flip. Control group with 10 flapped implants and test group with 10 flapless implants. Follow-up examinations were carried out after 1 week, 1, and 3 months. All treatments were performed under local anesthesia. Peri-implant sulcular fluid samples were collected as well as clinical parameters recorded at the follow up periods.
Results: Peri-implant sulcus depth was significantly greater in flapped implants at both 4 and 12 postsurgical weeks (P < 0.005). Matrix metalloproteinase-8 values were higher to a statistically significant level in the control group at 1 (P = 0.003) and 4 weeks (P = 0.007) after placement.
Conclusions: Matrix metalloproteinase 8 levels of peri implant crevicular fluid as well as pocket depth were decreased in flapless implants than conventional flap implant surgery.