Immediate loading of mandibular implants in compromised patients: preliminary results

To minimize the number of implant surgical procedures, a total of 72 single-stage, transgingival Frialoc implants (Friadent) were placed in the mandibles of 18 patients who required implant restoration. The patients' ability to undergo surgical implant treatment was restricted because of either poor general medical health or psychologic conditions. All implants were immediately loaded with a bar-retained overdenture. Only 4 of the 72 immediately loaded Frialoc implants (in one patient) failed over a control period of 29 months. The cumulative implant survival rate was 94.4%. Apart from an initial increase in bone resorption at two posterior implants supporting a cantilever bar (the cantilevers were removed 13 months after delivery of the prosthesis) and serious lip swelling in one patient, there were no further serious surgical, prosthetic, or general medical problems during the treatment period. The initial results of the study indicate that the single-stage Frialoc System allows fast prosthetic mandibular restorations. Because there is only one operation, the risk of local or general health complications in compromised patients is reduced.