title: Early versus delayed loading of mandibular implant-supported overdentures: 5-year results.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Because of poor retention of complete removable dentures for edentulous patients, implant-supported mandibular overdentures have lately become a popular alternative for them. The aims of this prospective study were to evaluate treatment outcomes of mandibular overdentures supported by two unsplinted early-loaded implants and compare these results with those for delayed-loaded implants.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 26 edentulous patients were treated with two unsplinted implants supporting a mandibular overdenture. All implants were placed in the canine regions of each mandible according to the one-stage surgical protocol. There were two groups: test group, in which the overdenture was connected 1 week after surgery, and control group, in which the overdenture was connected 3 months after surgery. Standardized clinical and radiographic parameters were recorded at surgery, and after 3, 6, 12, and 18 months, and 2, 3, 4, and 5 years.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No implants were lost, and 0.93 +/- 0.3 mm marginal bone resorption was noted for all implants after 5 years. Clinical implant stability measurements, clinical peri-implant parameters, and marginal bone resorptions showed no statistically significant differences between the two groups over 5 years.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of this prospective clinical study suggest that there is no significant difference in the clinical and radiographic state of patients treated with implant supported mandibular overdentures loaded either 1 week or 3 months after surgery.
authors: Department of Prosthodontics, Dental School, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, Texas 78229-3900, USA. turkyilmaz@uthscsa.edu
authors: Ilser
authors: I
authors: Turkyilmaz
authors: Tolga F
authors: TF
authors: Tözüm
authors: Celal
authors: C
authors: Tumer
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D016301:Alveolar Bone Loss / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D003758:Dental Implantation, Endosseous; D015921:Dental Implants; D003774:Dental Plaque Index; D017268:Dental Prosthesis Retention; D019094:Dental Prosthesis, Implant-Supported; D003799:Dental Stress Analysis; D003828:Denture, Overlay; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007575:Jaw, Edentulous / Q000534:rehabilitation; D008297:Male; D008334:Mandible; D008875:Middle Aged; D010512:Periodontal Index; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011859:Radiography; D013997:Time Factors; D020390:Tooth Socket / Q000601:surgery; D014732:Vibration
chemical_list: D015921:Dental Implants