Immediate Loading in the Edentulous Mandible Using Fixed Restorations. 2-year Preliminary Results

Immediate Loading in the Edentulous Mandible Using Fixed Restorations. 2-year Preliminary Results
G.E. ROMANOS, and G.-H. NENTWIG, University of Frankfurt, Germany
2003
IADR
Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical and radiological situation of immediately loaded implants placed in the mandible in order to restore the dentition using arch-shaped restorations. Methods: Five patients (55.75¨±4.85 yrs old) participated so far in this study. 30 Ankylos¨? implants (Friadent, Mannheim, Germany) having a characteristic progressive thread design which allows an increased primary stability (Morris et al., 2000) were placed in mandibular edentulous jaws (6 implants in each jaw). All implants were connected together immerdiately after their insertion using temporary fixed bridges and loaded immediately. The final reconstructions were installed six to eight weeks after surgery. Periodontal (PlI, SBI, PPDm/b, KM, Periotest Values) and radiological indices were evaluated at different time intervals. Results: After a total loading period of 20.50¨±9.74 months all implants presented healthy periimplant soft and hard tissue conditions, showing normal values of the clinical parameters (PLI:0.31¨±0.45; SBI:0.41¨±0.54; PPDm:1.72¨±0.60mm; PPDb:2.06¨±0.51mm; KM: 2.86¨±0.77mm; PV:-3.10¨±1.15) and no bone loss. No implants were lost during the period of loading, which represented a success rate of 100.00%. Conclusions: It was concluded that six implants with a high primary stability may be sufficient in order to restore the edentulous mandible using arch-shaped restorations and immediate loading protocol.