Fixed mandibular restorations on three early-loaded regular platform Brånemark implants

Area of Science:

• Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
• Dental Implantology
• Prosthodontics

Background:

• The Brånemark System, initially a two-stage procedure, has evolved with one-stage and early-loading options for edentulous mandibles.
• Reducing surgical interventions and implant numbers can decrease patient financial burden.
• Patient financial concerns are a significant factor in implant treatment decisions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the 1- and 3-year success rates of mandibular implants loaded within one month after one-stage surgery.
• To assess the prosthetic outcomes of fixed 10- to 12-unit bridges supported by three Brånemark System implants.
• To gather patient perspectives on the early-loading, one-stage implant procedure.

Main Methods:

• A prospective multicenter study involving 20 patients with edentulous mandibles.
• Functionally loading three regular platform Brånemark System implants in a tripodal position within one month of one-stage surgery.
• Utilizing two additional control implants (one-stage and submerged) for comparative analysis of stability and bone levels.

Main Results:

• A 9.5% cumulative implant failure rate was observed after 1 and 3 years in the functionally loaded group (group 1).
• Six of 60 loaded implants (10%) and 3 of 20 prostheses (15%) failed within the first year.
• Marginal bone loss was observed, with average levels at 3 years being 2.1 mm for group 1, 2.4 mm for group 2, and 0.7 mm for group 3.

Conclusions:

• The use of three Brånemark System implants for a fixed mandibular reconstruction with early loading showed less favorable results compared to standard protocols.
• This treatment approach may not achieve the success rates expected with conventional four- to six-implant restorations.
• Further research may be needed to optimize protocols for reduced implant number and early loading in mandibular reconstructions.