In-patient comparison of immediate and conventional loaded implants in mandibular molar sites within 12 months.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this prospective clinical study was to evaluate the clinical outcomes of dental implants placed in the mandibular molar sites and immediately functionally restored compared with conventionally loaded controls in an in-patient study.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: Twenty-four dental implants were placed in 12 patients who had first molar loss bilaterally in the mandibular area. One site of the patient was determined as immediately loaded (IL) and the other side was conventionally loaded (CL). Resonance frequency analyses for implant stability measurements, radiographic examinations for marginal bone levels and peri-implant evaluations were performed during the clinical follow-up appointments within 12 months.

RESULTS: During the 12-month follow-up period, only one implant was lost in the IL group. The mean implant stability quotient values were 74.18+/-5.72 and 75.18+/-3.51 for Groups IL and CL at surgery, respectively, and the corresponding values were 75.36+/-5.88 and 75.64+/-4.84 at 1-year recall, respectively. The difference was not statistically significant between the two groups during the 12-month study period (P>0.05). When peri-implant parameters were evaluated, excellent peri-implant health was demonstrated during the 1-year observation period and all implants showed less than 1 mm of marginal bone resorption during the first year.

CONCLUSIONS: In the present study, immediate functionally loading did not negatively affect implant stability, marginal bone levels and peri-implant health when compared with conventional loading of single-tooth implants.