One-year prospective evaluation of the early loading of unsplinted conical Brånemark fixtures with mandibular overdentures immediately following surgery.
BACKGROUND
Prospective evaluation of the early loading of unsplinted Brånemark implants with mandibular overdentures opposing conventional dentures is not evident in the implant-related literature.


OBJECTIVE
To clinically evaluate progressive and early loading of 20 unsplinted conical Brånemark implants in edentulous mandibles with overdentures.


METHODS
Ten edentulous patients all had two conical Brånemark implants placed in the anterior mandible with mandatory primary stability with bicortical anchorage. Ball abutment connection was performed simultaneously. Previously constructed conventional mandibular dentures were temporarily relined with tissue conditioner postoperatively and worn with moderation for the first 2 weeks to allow progressive loading. Early loading of the implants followed after 2 weeks, with inclusion of the respective matrices in the mandibular dentures, using a definitive reline procedure.


RESULTS
All patients successfully functioned with their mandibular implant overdentures from 2 to 52 weeks postoperatively. Mean marginal bone loss was within established criteria for success: 0.22 mm (SD = 0.48 mm) mesially and 0.30 mm (SD = 0.39 mm) distally on the conical implants. Mobility tests using the Periotest instrument became more negative, although not at statistically significant levels. Difficulties in the management of the peri-implant mucosa between surgery and loading at 2 weeks were observed in 40% of the patients.


CONCLUSIONS
These preliminary 1-year results show that successful early loading of unsplinted conical Brånemark implants with mandibular overdentures is possible.
Payne
A G
AG
Department of Oral Rehabilitation, School of Dentistry, University of Otago, P.O. Box 647, Dunedin, New Zealand. alan.payne@dent.otago.ac.nz
Tawse-Smith
A
A
Kumara
R
R
Thomson
W M
WM
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001862:Bone Resorption / Q000145:classification; D000044:Dental Abutments; D015921:Dental Implants; D003774:Dental Plaque Index; D017267:Dental Prosthesis Design; D017268:Dental Prosthesis Retention; D019094:Dental Prosthesis, Implant-Supported; D003779:Denture Design; D003822:Denture Liners; D003823:Denture Rebasing; D003826:Denture, Complete, Lower; D003828:Denture, Overlay; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007575:Jaw, Edentulous / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008334:Mandible / Q000601:surgery*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010512:Periodontal Index; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D014016:Tissue Conditioning, Dental; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D015921:Dental Implants