Consensus conference on immediate loading: the single tooth and partial edentulous areas.
OBJECTIVE
A consensus conference was held to determine what the parameters should be for the immediate functional loading of the single-tooth implant restoration and short-span fixed implant-supported bridgework.


METHODS
Forty-one clinicians and researchers presented cases and situations relating to the topic. A panel then distilled questions that were presented to the audience (430) at large. Answers were gleaned to formulate a consensus.


RESULTS
Ten distinct answers evolved that constituted the essence of guidelines for clinicians to be aware of when undertaking immediate loading. These guidelines are contained within the body of the text.


CONCLUSIONS
Extreme caution and adherence to a universal generic protocol are suggested for clinicians who are involved with single-tooth and short-span multiple-teeth implant replacements as related to immediate loading as defined within this text.
Wang
Hom-Lay
HL
Department of Periodontics and Oral Medicine, School of Dentistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
Ormianer
Zeev
Z
Palti
Ady
A
Perel
Morton L
ML
Trisi
Paolo
P
Sammartino
Gilberto
G
D000044:Dental Abutments; D003758:Dental Implantation, Endosseous / Q000379:methods*; D019250:Dental Implants, Single-Tooth; D019094:Dental Prosthesis, Implant-Supported; D006801:Humans; D007576:Jaw, Edentulous, Partially / Q000601:surgery*