Early loading of nonsubmerged titanium implants with a chemically modified sand-blasted and acid-etched surface: 6-month results of a prospective case series study in the posterior mandible focusing on peri-implant crestal bone changes and implant stability quotient (ISQ) values.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this prospective case series study was to evaluate the short-term success rates of titanium screw-type implants with a chemically modified sand-blasted and acid-etched (mod SLA) surface after 3 weeks of healing.


METHODS
A total of 56 implants were inserted in the posterior mandible of 40 partially edentulous patients exhibiting bone densities of class I to III. After a healing period of 3 weeks, all implants were functionally loaded with a screw-retained crown or fixed dental prosthesis. The patients were recalled at weeks 4, 7, 12, and 26 for monitoring and assessment of clinical and radiological parameters, including implant stability quotient (ISQ) measurements.


RESULTS
None of the implants failed to integrate. However, two implants were considered "spinners" at day 21 and left unloaded for an extended period. Therefore, 96.4% of the inserted implants were loaded according to the protocol tested. All 56 implants including the "spinners" showed favorable clinical and radiographic findings at the 6-month follow-up examination. The ISQ values increased steadily throughout the follow-up period. At the time of implant placement, the range of ISQ values exhibited a mean of 74.33, and by week 26, a mean value of 83.82 was recorded. Based on strict criteria, all 56 implants were considered successfully integrated, resulting in a 6-month survival and success rate of 100.0%.


CONCLUSIONS
This prospective study using an early-loading protocol after 3 weeks of healing demonstrated that titanium implants with the modified SLA surface can achieve and maintain successful tissue integration over a period of at least 6 months. The ISQ method seems feasible to monitor implant stability during the initial wound-healing period.
Department of Oral Surgery and Stomatology, School of Dental Medicine, University of Bern, Switzerland.
Michael M
MM
Bornstein
Christopher N
CN
Hart
Sandro A
SA
Halbritter
Dean
D
Morton
Daniel
D
Buser
D000134:Acid Etching, Dental / Q000379:methods*; D016301:Alveolar Bone Loss / Q000145:classification; D000539:Alveolar Process / Q000473:pathology*; D015519:Bone Density / Q000502:physiology; D003442:Crowns; D045662:Dental Etching / Q000379:methods*; D003758:Dental Implantation, Endosseous / Q000379:methods*; D015921:Dental Implants; D003764:Dental Materials / Q000737:chemistry; D003774:Dental Plaque Index; D017267:Dental Prosthesis Design; D017268:Dental Prosthesis Retention; D019094:Dental Prosthesis, Implant-Supported; D003830:Denture, Partial, Fixed; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007576:Jaw, Edentulous, Partially / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008334:Mandible / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D016348:Osseointegration / Q000502:physiology*; D017622:Periodontal Attachment Loss / Q000145:classification; D010512:Periodontal Index; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014025:Titanium / Q000737:chemistry; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000502:physiology
D015921:Dental Implants; D003764:Dental Materials; D014025:Titanium