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Interventions for replacing missing teeth: different times for loading dental implants
M Esposito1, M G Grusovin, M Willings
1School of Dentistry, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University of Manchester, Higher Cambridge Street, Manchester, UK, M15 6FH. espositomarco@hotmail.com
The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews
|April 20, 2007
Summary
Immediate or early loading of dental implants shows comparable success rates to conventional loading. Primary implant stability is crucial for successful immediate/early loading, but more research is needed.
Area of Science:
- Dental Implantology
- Biomaterials Science
- Prosthodontics
Background:
- Conventional dental implant protocols involve a non-loaded healing period to ensure osseointegration.
- Removable temporary prostheses during healing can be uncomfortable for patients.
- Shortening the healing period without compromising implant success is desirable.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the clinical performance of osseointegrated dental implants loaded at different times.
- To evaluate success rates between immediately, early, and conventionally loaded implants.
Main Methods:
- A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) was conducted.
- Searches included major databases (Cochrane, MEDLINE, EMBASE) and handsearching of journals.
- Included RCTs compared immediate (≤1 week), early (1 week–2 months), and conventional (>2 months) loading of root-form implants with follow-up of 6 months to 1 year.
Main Results:
- Eleven RCTs involving 300 patients were included in the analysis.
- No statistically significant differences in prosthesis or implant failures, or marginal bone levels were found between immediate, early, and conventional loading groups on a per-patient basis.
- The study analyzed comparisons of immediate vs. conventional, early vs. conventional, and immediate vs. early loading.
Conclusions:
- Immediate or early loading of dental implants is a viable option for selected patients.
- High primary implant stability, indicated by insertion torque, appears essential for successful immediate/early loading.
- Further well-designed RCTs are recommended, particularly comparing immediate versus early loading to enhance patient satisfaction and reduce treatment duration.