Early loading of unsplinted chemically modified dental implants in the edentulous jaw

Purpose: Implant success and survival data indicates that altered loading protocols may exert only limited effects on treatment outcomes and are rarely associated with an increase in negative observations. Early functional loading of unsplinted implants with attachment overdentures may become more widespread as a simplified and efficient treatment option for edentulous patients. However, clinical studies are required to evaluate the success of this approach. This study was designed to evaluate early loading (healing time less than 3-months) of unsplinted dental implants characterized by a chemically modified surface, when used to support overdentures in the edentulous jaw. Materials and Methods: Eleven patients with edentulous mandibles and/or maxillas received between 2 and 4 solid screw titanium implants (n=44). The implants were characterized by a chemically modified surface (SLActive, Straumann Dental Implant-System, Straumann AG, Basel, Switzerland). Mean healing time was 52 days subsequent to implant placement. Locator abutments (Straumann Dental Implant System) were positioned (n=32 mandible and n=12 maxilla) and torqued to 35Ncm. 34 implants within the study group were loaded earlier than 6 weeks after implant placement. Locator attachments were placed on each abutment and then picked up in the patients denture. Radiographs were taken and clinical assessments were made at loading and after 3 months in function. Results and Conclusions: A total of 44 SLActive implants were placed as part of the study. Throughout the period of follow-up no implants were lost or considered failures. The implant survival and success rates were therefore 100% for this preliminary evaluation. All patients are functioning with an attachment retained implant supported prosthesis. To date no complications have been recorded with regard to denture function, denture esthetics or periimplant tissue health. To date no evidence of bone loss associated with the healed or loaded implants exists. No negative observations were recorded in the group of implants loaded earlier than 6 weeks.Within the limitations of this pilot study preliminary results suggest that the early loading of unsplinted, chemically modified surface implants, results in implant and prosthesis survival rates comparable with existing literature when considering treatment of the edentulous mandible. Keywords: Early loading, implant surface, edentulous