Use of a ceramic surgical bur for dental implant uncovering: A pilot randomized controlled trial

Dental implant uncovering, also referred to as second-stage surgery, is a minor surgical procedure traditionally performed using scalpels, which may result in bleeding and postoperative discomfort. In recent years, alternative techniques such as the use of surgical burs have been introduced, aiming to provide more comfortable and faster procedures, along with improved esthetic outcomes. However, scientific evidence regarding these alternative methods for dental implant uncovering remains limited, and certain clinical aspects are still a concern. The present study aimed to evaluate clinical outcomes associated with the use of a ceramic surgical bur for implant uncovering - specifically, thermal changes and postoperative pain - in comparison with the conventional technique employing a circular scalpel punch as the control.

Ten single-unit osseointegrated implants, fully submerged beneath gingival tissue, were included and divided into two groups: the scalpel punch group (n = 5) and the ceramic bur group (n = 5). In addition, three specimens of residual soft tissue were collected from each group for histological analysis.

The results revealed no differences in any of the evaluated clinical parameters between the two groups, and no thermal damage was observed in the histological specimens.

Based on these findings, the use of ceramic surgical burs for dental implant uncovering appears to be a safe technique, demonstrating comparable outcomes to the conventional scalpel method. Nevertheless, further studies are necessary to draw more definitive conclusions.