The Bis-Acryl Stent
When placing dental implants, there may be a surgical flap to reposition. The flap can be sutured or held in place with a stent that protects the flap and maintains its position and immobility. Use of a bis-acryl stent may be preferable to sutures or other materials in many cases. Bis-acryl is easily applied from an auto-mixing gun. Stents may be preferable to sutures in that there is no “wicking effect,” where bacteria colonize the suture beneath the healing surgical wound. Additionally, many times there is no submucosa to suture to, and the sides of the wound may not allow appropriate flap positioning and immobility with sutures. In these situations an acryl stent may be placed for easy and proper flap positioning and healing.
Figure 1 . Bis-acryl gun with auto-mixing tip. Figure 2. The auto-mixing tip is cut with scissors to form a slot opening. Figure 3. The surgical flap. Figure 4. The surgical flap was appropriately positioned to maximize keratinized tissue formation. The abutments and adjacent tooth undercuts are engaged to retain the set bis-acryl stent. Figure 5. The set bis-acryl hardens to immobilize and protect the healing flap. The surface can be finished with a diamond stone and polished. Figure 6. The healed apically positioned flap at 10 days.
Contributor Notes