Technology and implants
Flapless implant surgery
Flapless implant surgery is the placement of a dental implant through a small opening in the gum, without lifting a full flap of gum tissue.
In flapless surgery, the dentist makes a small opening and places the implant without folding back the gum. Standard surgery lifts a flap to see the bone. Researchers compare the two. One 2025 paper looks at soft tissue healing between flapless and conventional flap implant techniques in 310 patients.
Research compares the two methods. Planning with CBCT and a surgical guide helps. See guided implant surgery.
It does not suit every site. Thin bone or unclear anatomy can call for a flap. The choice belongs to the treating dentist.