Immediate loading of the edentulous mandible: delivery of the final restoration or a provisional restoration--which method to use?
OBJECTIVE
Edentulous patients desire restoration of their chewing ability as soon as possible after placement of dental implants. The purpose of this article is to provide clinicians with evidence that immediate loading of implants placed into the anterior mandible can predictably provide the patient with early functional rehabilitation. Two methods are presented that illustrate delivery of the final restoration or a provisional implant-borne prosthesis immediately after implant placement.


METHODS
A literature search was performed which produced 14 articles in the English literature that provided sufficient evidence that immediate loading is now not experimental and can be recommended as an acceptable treatment alternative.


RESULTS
Two practical methods to achieve immediate function are presented in a step-wise manner to illustrate how to deliver this service to the patient.


CONCLUSIONS
Based on our literature review, immediate loading of the edentulous mandible with an implant-borne restoration is an acceptable and predictable method to deliver efficient return of function for the edentulous patient.
Castellon
Paulino
P
Department of Prosthodontics, Louisiana State University School of Dentistry, New Orleans 70119, USA.
Block
Michael S
MS
Smith
Michael B
MB
Finger
Israel M
IM
D000044:Dental Abutments; D003758:Dental Implantation, Endosseous / Q000379:methods; D015921:Dental Implants; D019094:Dental Prosthesis, Implant-Supported; D003779:Denture Design; D003825:Denture, Complete, Immediate; D003826:Denture, Complete, Lower; D006801:Humans; D007575:Jaw, Edentulous / Q000534:rehabilitation* / Q000601:surgery; D008334:Mandible / Q000601:surgery*; D016348:Osseointegration
D015921:Dental Implants