Traditionally, when placing dental implants, a flap is elevated to better visualize the bone site that will receive the implants. However, flap elevation is associated with some degree of morbidity and discomfort. There are situations where elevation of flap may be not necessary. Computer-guided implantology enables to evaluate bony morphology for placement of dental implants with a high degree of accuracy, with 3-dimensional views and to possibility a flapless surgery.

Implants were placed in maxillae with a minimum insertion torque of 45 Ncm in underprepared sites to allow maximum stability at insertion using a flapless technique. Implants were immediately loaded. Outcome measures were prosthesis and implants success, biologic and prosthetic complications, pain, and edema evaluation.

Twenty-six consecutively treated patients received 126 implants in the maxilla. Four implants failed, and the success rate was 97%. No prosthesis failed. Twenty patients experienced no or slight postoperative pain; 6 experienced moderate pain. No patient reported severe pain. No or slight edema was recorded for 23 patients and moderate edema for 3 patients.

No major complications occurred. Implants placed in the maxilla with a flapless insertion can be successfully loaded the same day of surgery with minimal complications.

Conflict of interest : None declared.