Long-Term Outcomes of Immediate Implant Placement Into Infected Sockets in Association With Immediate Loading: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND

There is a paucity of studies examining long-term outcomes of immediate loading of dental implants immediately placed into infected sites. This study aims to evaluate long-term outcomes of immediate loading of postextraction implants placed in infected sites.

METHODS

Patients were selected if they had postextraction implants in the anterior maxilla that were inserted in the period from December 2006 to June 2015 and immediately loaded. Information collected about patients included: 1) demographic data; 2) implant details; 3) soft tissue stability; and 4) prosthodontics data. Marginal bone loss (BL) and implant and prosthesis survival rates were calculated.

RESULTS

Thirty patients (mean age: 56 years) had 43 implants immediately inserted into infected sites and immediately loaded. Implants were inserted at torque ≥35 Ncm. Mean follow-up time was 6 years (range: 1 to 8 years), and 65% of implants had a follow-up time >5 years. No implant failure occurred, and implant success rate was 93%. Proximal BL was 1.42 mm (range: 0.21 to 5.61 mm). Three prosthetic complications (all fracture of veneer material) occurred.

CONCLUSIONS

Immediate loading of implants inserted into fresh and infected extraction sockets is not a risk factor for implant survival. However, stability of peri-implant soft and hard tissues indicates the need to take measures that minimize loss.