Long-term results of immediately loaded interforaminal implants

Objective: To collect, retrospectively, long-term results from patients who received immediately loaded Straumann implants with bar-retained overdentures. Method and Materials: The surgical and prosthetic treatment took place between 1981 and 1991 at the Department of Oral Surgery, Oral Radiology, and Oral Medicine, University of Basel. In each case on the day of the operation, the patients were fitted with a bar that was immediately loaded with a hybrid prosthesis. Patients who were available at the time of this study were clinically reexamined and statistically assessed. Results: Among the 44 patients who received 176 interforaminal Straumann implants (4 implants per patient), follow-up was possible in 23 patients, who had received a total of 89 implants. The mean observation time for the implants was 12.2 years (8 to 18 years). Three implants were lost. Five implants did not meet the predetermined success criteria. Using the definition by Cutler and Ederer, the probability of success was 83.3%. Conclusions: The results show that the requisite 4-month healing time for immediately loaded interforaminal Straumann implants with bars does not have to be observed. Keywords: immediate bar, immediate loading, implants, long-term results, overdenture