title: Immediate functional loading of TiOblast dental implants in full-arch edentulous mandibles: a 3-year prospective study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Implant-prosthetic rehabilitation of the completely edentulous mandible has evolved to a simplified procedure with shorter treatment time and survival rates of 95-100% depending on the implant system used.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim was to evaluate the 3-year clinical success of Astra Tech TiOblast implants, functionally loaded on the day of surgery with a fixed full-arch bridge in the mandible.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred and twenty-five implants of 3.5-4 mm width and 11-17 mm length were installed in 25 edentulous mandibles of 15 female and 10 male patients. Implants were functionally loaded on the day of surgery with a provisional, acrylic, glassfibre reinforced, 10 unit bridge. After 3-4 months, the final 12-unit bridge was constructed. Radiographical bone loss was measured on peri-apical radiographs after 3, 12, 24 and 36 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All implants were functional during the whole study period yielding a survival rate of 100%. None of the fixtures showed pain or mobility after manual torque with 20 N cm at the 3-month control. Mean radiographical bone loss after 3 months and 1, 2 and 3 years was 0.6 mm (SD 0.7), 0.8 mm (SD 0.8), 1 mm (SD 0.8) and 1.3 (SD 1) respectively, which was statistically significantly increasing up to 1 year.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Immediate loading of full-arch mandibular bridgework on five TiOblast implants offers a long-lasting clinical result with 100% fixture survival and stable bone-to-implant contact up to 3 years.
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontology and Oral Implantology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dental School, University of Ghent, Ghent, Belgium. hugo.debruyn@Ugent.be
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: De Bruyn
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Van de Velde
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Collaert
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016301:Alveolar Bone Loss / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology; D003722:Dental Alloys; D003758:Dental Implantation, Endosseous / Q000379:methods*; D015921:Dental Implants / Q000009:adverse effects; D017267:Dental Prosthesis Design; D019094:Dental Prosthesis, Implant-Supported / Q000009:adverse effects; D003794:Dental Restoration, Temporary; D003799:Dental Stress Analysis; D003825:Denture, Complete, Immediate; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007575:Jaw, Edentulous / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000534:rehabilitation; D008297:Male; D008334:Mandible; D008875:Middle Aged; D016348:Osseointegration; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011859:Radiography; D013997:Time Factors; D014025:Titanium; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D003722:Dental Alloys; D015921:Dental Implants; C009495:titanium dioxide; D014025:Titanium