Immediate loading with fixed screw-retained provisional restorations in edentulous jaws: the pickup technique.
OBJECTIVE
This article describes (a) an immediate loading technique in the treatment of edentulous arches with screw-retained provisional restorations and (b) the effort to determine whether the described technique is compatible with the predictable achievement of osseointegration.


METHODS
Eight patients with either 1 or 2 edentulous arches were treated. A diagnostic tooth arrangement was carried out for each patient and was then duplicated twice to fabricate a provisional template and a surgical guide. Six to 10 solid-screw ITI implants were placed around the dental arch to reach the first molar regions. On the same day, all patients received splinted metal-free screw-retained provisional restorations according to the pickup technique. The provisional prostheses were retrieved every 2 weeks during the healing phase.


RESULTS
Seventy-eight implants were placed in 11 edentulous arches. Two implants were not immediately loaded because of inadequate primary stability. In an 8- to 20-month follow-up period (mean 14 months), two 8-mm implants were lost after 5 weeks of functional loading, resulting in an overall survival rate of 97.4%. All implants were assessed by resonance frequency analysis. After 4 months of functional loading, the mean implant stability quotient was 60+/-4.1 units (range 51 to 72 ISQ units) for maxillary implants and 65+/-6.5 units (range 47 to 74 ISQ units) for mandibular implants.


CONCLUSIONS
The immediate loading of implants placed in edentulous arches with screw-retained 1-piece (cross-arch) provisional restorations does not appear to jeopardize the achievement of osseointegration. Neither the metal-free design of the provisional prostheses nor the removal of the provisional prostheses during the healing phase adversely affected osseointegration. The pickup technique for immediate provisionalization represents a reproducible treatment option.
Gallucci
German O
GO
Department of Prosthodontics, School of Dental Medicine, University of Geneva, Switzerland. german.gallucci@medecine.unige.ch
Bernard
Jean-Pierre
JP
Bertosa
Michel
M
Belser
Urs C
UC
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003758:Dental Implantation, Endosseous / Q000379:methods*; D017268:Dental Prosthesis Retention / Q000295:instrumentation; D019094:Dental Prosthesis, Implant-Supported / Q000295:instrumentation; D003794:Dental Restoration, Temporary / Q000379:methods; D003799:Dental Stress Analysis; D003825:Denture, Complete, Immediate; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007575:Jaw, Edentulous / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016348:Osseointegration; D011182:Postoperative Care