Glossary

Tensile stress is the stress caused by a load (two forces applied away from one another in the same straight line) that tends to stretch or elongate an object. Tensile stress is not often encountered in dentistry, however there are two situations in which it may be seen. The first occurs when a patient with a crown chews a sticky candy. As the candy becomes stuck to the tooth opposite the crown and the patient opens his/her mouth, the crown is subject to tensile stress which may result in the crown being pulled off. The second situation can be observed when a fixed dental structure, such as a bridge, is flexed. The flexing of the bridge can cause it to deform and no longer fit or function correctly. There are few true cases of tensile stress in dentistry since other types of stress tend to be observed simultaneously.

The surgical incision and resulting flap are some of the most important things to get right during a dental implant procedure. It facilitates healing and when done incorrectly, can result in post-operative dental implant failure. The size of the flap cannot be too small — this results in the surgeon having more difficulty accessing the tissue underneath, putting pressure on the incision and flap, causing damage to the tissue. A flap should be big enough for the surgeon to visualize the bony ridge. As dental technology continues to advance, there are a number of different types of incision and flap creation techniques that are each suited to varying conditions. A tension-free flap closure is desirable for procedures like guided bone regeneration, or to cover the root of a natural tooth. Using a tension-free flap closure can help promote less discomfort for the patient and an improved surgical outcome due to faster healing and the decreased risk of postoperative infections.