Surgical Placement: Flap Design

Flap Design

After appropriate local anesthesia, either an envelope or broad-based pedicle flap is raised. In both designs, the crestal incision should be palatal or lingual to the actual crest of the ridge.

Broad-Based Pedicle Type Flap

The broad-based pedicle flap is recommended for use in the posterior part of the mouth for two stage surgical placements and for narrow ridges. This flap consists of two near-parallel incisions and one transverse incision lingual to the crest of the ridge. This flap can be easily modified for the one stage or immediate stabilization and function techniques.

Semi-Lunar Type Flap

The semi-lunar flap is recommended for the one stage surgical technique, the immediate stabilization and function technique and for aesthetic areas. This flap consists of a pedicle flap based on the lingual or palatal aspect of the ridge. Caution is advised when using the semi-lunar flap, since visualization of the implant site is limited to only the crestal aspect of the bone. As a result, inadvertent buccal or lingual fenestrations are more likely to occur when using the semi-lunar flap.