Endosseous blade implants 485

Fig. 11-70. Tissues approximated over the site. Vertical incisions should be avoided as they do not heal as rapidly as a single horizontal incision. (From Linkow, L. I.: The blade vent, a new dimension in endosseous implantology, Dent. Concepts 11:3-18, 1968.)

Fig. 11-72. The implant site after only 5 days.

reflected to expose the underlying bone, and a groove was made in the bone to correspond in depth with the blade. The blade was then placed into the groove and tapped into the cancellous bone until its shoulders were buried (Fig. 11-69) . The soft tissues were brought together (Fig. 11-70) and sutured (Fig. 11-71). Since this was one of the earlier blade cases, vertical incisions were also used. Only horizontal incisions are done today, since delayed healing usually accompanies the vertical incisions.

Five days later the sutures were removed (Fig. 11-72), and all necessary impressions and bites were taken to complete the full arch fixed denture. During the following visit the final prosthesis was temporarily seated (Fig. 11-73). When complete healing had taken place, it was affixed with hard cement and the occlusion checked (Fig. 11-74).

Fig. 11-71. The sutures should be closely adapted to the post. (From Linkow, L. I.: The blade vent, a new dimension in endosseous implantology, Dent. Concepts 11:3-18, 1968.)

Fig. 11-73. The full arch acrylic-and-gold prosthesis being cemented in position. The final prosthesis should be seated only temporarily until the tissues look smooth and tightly adapted to the underlying bone and implant post.