Evaluation of the Effects of Four Different Flap Designs on Tissue Healing in Lower Third Molar Surgery

Triangular flap is a type of flap that is made in the retromolar region, from the distal of the 2nd molar tooth towards the ramus and up to the distal gingival sulcus of the 2nd molar, and includes a vertical releasing incision added from the distobuccal sulcus of the 2nd molar tooth. The auxiliary vertical incision made in this flap type allows the wound to be closed without tension.

Berwick described a type of flap whose base is in the distolingual direction of the second molar tooth, in which the tongue-shaped vestibular wing extends to the buccal part of the mandible. In this modification, the incision line is not over the bone defect created by the extraction.

In the modified flap type he used, Suarez combined the crestal incision (marginal incision) from the distobuccal corner of the second molar tooth, following the line where the retromolar area meets the buccal bone, with a releasing incision made at the mesial and distal ends of the incision.

Heitz used the incision line extending from the distobuccal corner of the 2nd molar tooth to the buccal face of the 2nd molar tooth and downwards, by rotating it towards the angulus mandible on the buccal bone.