A Prospective Study on Immediate Loading of Dental Implants

The demand of the patient for a quick and reliable procedure request the predictability for immediate loaded implants. The aim of this prospective study was to evaluate the clinical performance of immediate loading of dental implants. Between 1999 and 2001 210 XiVE screw-type implants with a grit-blasted and acid-etched surface were consecutively placed in 62 patients and immediate loaded having a placement torque of minimum 35 Ncm. 186 were placed in the mandible and 24 in the maxilla. Most of these implants were inserted in the interforaminal area of the mandible (172 implants) and restored immediately with a bar and overdenture. 31 implants mainly in the esthetic area of the maxilla were immediately restored but without functional loading (out of occlusion), most of them for single-tooth restoration. After a follow-up of 12 to 36 months (average 27.3 months) 2 implants failed in the edentulous mandible, both during the first 2 months of loading. All other implants are still in function with acceptable peri-implant parameters. Bone loss > 3 mm was observed in 6 implants placed in the edentulous mandible. The 31 non-functionally loaded implants osseointegrated and were restored with a functionally loaded ceramic crown 3 months after implant placement. Peri-implant probing depth and bone loss showed no significant difference between functional and non-functional implant loading. The data and the experience described of this 3-year analysis indicate that immediate loading of implants using appropriate surgical and restorative techniques can be a predictable technique for shortening dental rehabilitation time with relevant satisfaction for patients in restricted indications. Immediate restoration of implants in the esthetic area without functional loading seems to be a successful method in cases of implants with a high primary stability. Keywords: immediate loading, XiVE, augmentation, three-year-result