Immediately Loaded Single Unit Dental Implants: A Clinical Study

BACKGROUND: Immediate loading of dental implants is an obvious advantage. A long treatment period that involves the wearing of a temporary prosthesis may be of great inconvenience, and is sometimes the reason for not choosing implant-supported restorations at all. AIM: In our study, an attempt was made to immediately load single tooth implants in the aesthetic zone of the dentition. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients were selected from Government Dental College, Patna. Twenty-four single tooth implants were placed in 24 patients; 12 male and 12 female patients desiring replacement of one or more missing teeth in anterior region were selected. Surgery for the placement of the implant was carried out, and implants of the Uniti Implant System were placed. The abutment was then attached and the flap was sutured. A temporary acrylic resin crown was fabricated and cemented on the same day. Permanent prosthesis was inserted on sixth month after implant placement. RESULTS: A clinical study was performed to evaluate the treatment outcomes of dental implants installed according to a one-stage surgical procedure followed by immediate loading with prosthesis. Of the 24 implants, 23 showed signs of successful osseointegration over a 1-year follow-up. CONCLUSION: Within limits of the evaluated data, it was observed that immediately loaded implants osseointegrate, so this alternative was used over conventional procedures that take 6 months for osseointegration. This has advantages, both for patient and practitioner.