title: Clinical and radiographic evaluation of implant-retained mandibular overdentures with immediate loading.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare immediate-loaded implant-retained mandibular overdentures and delayed-loaded implant-retained mandibular overdentures.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ten completely edentulous male patients received 40 dental implants. Patients were randomly divided into 2 equal groups, 5 patients each. Patients of both groups received conventional maxillary complete denture and had stage 1 surgery for placing 4 dental implant fixtures, 2 on each side anterior to the mental foramina. Group A: One-stage surgical procedure and immediate loading. Patients in this group received mandibular bar-retained overdenture supported by 4 endosseous implants loaded immediately after implant placement. Group B: The original 2-stage concept and delayed loading. Patients in this group received mandibular bar-retained overdenture supported by 4 endosseous implants that remained submerged for a period of 4 months before loading. The patients were evaluated clinically and radiographically immediately after overdenture delivery and after 6 months, 12 months, 18 months, and 24 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results of clinical evaluation showed no statistical significant difference between the 2 groups regarding the effect of treatment. The radiographic assessment showed no statistical significant difference in mesial and distal alveolar bone loss at the different intervals of the follow-up period, except at the 12-month period, where immediately loaded implants showed a decrease in the amount of alveolar bone loss mesially and distally compared to delayed loaded implants.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results suggest that immediate-loaded implants provide promising results compared to delayed-loaded implants and can be a possible alternative procedure in implant dentistry.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Oral and Dental Medicine, Misr International University, 21 Mohamed Shafik Street Heliopolis, Cairo, Egypt. ahmd_assad@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Ahmed S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Assad
authors.forename: Susan A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Hassan
authors.forename: Yasser M
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Shawky
authors.forename: Magdy M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Badawy
mesh_terms: D016301:Alveolar Bone Loss / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D000044:Dental Abutments; D003758:Dental Implantation, Endosseous; D015921:Dental Implants; D003774:Dental Plaque Index; D019094:Dental Prosthesis, Implant-Supported; D003779:Denture Design; D003781:Denture Retention; D003826:Denture, Complete, Lower; D003828:Denture, Overlay; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008334:Mandible / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D008875:Middle Aged; D016348:Osseointegration / Q000502:physiology; D010512:Periodontal Index; D010514:Periodontal Pocket / Q000145:classification; D011862:Radiography, Panoramic; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D015921:Dental Implants