Immediate loading of dental implants in the edentulous maxilla: case study of a unique protocol

Although immediate loading of dental implants is increasingly gaining recognition as an important option for certain categories of implant patients, the maxillary arch has historically posed difficulties that have limited the number of immediate loading applications. To address the needs of patients who cannot tolerate maxillary removable complete dentures, an immediate loading protocol we call "Teeth in a Day" uses a conversion prosthesis that has been expanded to include complete-arch maxillary reconstruction. Use of a large number of implants to prevent micromotion at the bone-to-implant interface is a critical element in this protocol. A patient treatment is reported.