Immediate load on the edentulous mandible: treatment planning considerations

Immediate load protocols for the edentulous mandible offer the patient many advantages in terms of decreased number of visits, improved early function, and reduction of surgical exposure; however, this treatment modality is not universally appropriate for all patients. The available evidence will assist the clinician in developing a customized and comprehensive informed consent. Patient selection and patient-mediated factors will dictate the suitability of not only a fixed or removable prosthesis, but also whether immediate loading would enhance the cost/benefit ratio. The indications, objective and subjective patient considerations, and design strategies are discussed for the immediate load scenario.