title: Immediate loading of two implants with a mandibular implant-retained overdenture: a new treatment protocol.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to present the clinical outcomes of the immediate loading of two bar-splinted implants retaining a mandibular overdenture.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a clinical trial, 124 edentulous patients were treated according to a new treatment concept, which involves the immediate loading of two bar-splinted SLActive implants with an implant-retained mandibular overdenture. The new conventional mandibular denture is used as a template for implant positioning and as an impression tray, and for mounting the retention clip by the dental laboratory. At the same day the implants are placed, the conventional denture is converted into an implant-retained overdenture. During the healing and evaluation period, resonance frequency analysis (RFA) was undertaken to assess the effect of loading on implant stability and survival.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The survival rate of the implants was 98.8% during the evaluation period (12-40 months). Only 3 of the 248 implants were lost. During the healing (osseointegration) phase, the implant-stability quotient increased significantly (p = .0001). During the evaluation period, four patients (3%) needed a relining of their mandibular overdenture, whereas 13 patients (11%) needed relining of the maxillary denture.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Two interconnected implants can be successfully loaded by a mandibular overdenture at the same day of implant placement with a high survival rate of the implants. Only a few patients needed additional relining of the overdenture. Repeated RFA measurements can be useful in gauging implant stability and survival.
authors.affiliation: Academic Centre for Dentistry Amsterdam (ACTA), Research Institute MOVE, University of Amsterdam, Department of Oral Implantology and Prostodontics, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. geertstoker@wxs.nl
authors.forename: Geert T
authors.initials: GT
authors.lastname: Stoker
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wismeijer
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002985:Clinical Protocols; D015921:Dental Implants; D019094:Dental Prosthesis, Implant-Supported; D019232:Dental Restoration Failure; D003779:Denture Design; D003823:Denture Rebasing; D003780:Denture Repair; D003781:Denture Retention / Q000295:instrumentation; D003826:Denture, Complete, Lower; D003828:Denture, Overlay; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D057893:Immediate Dental Implant Loading / Q000379:methods*; D007575:Jaw, Edentulous / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008334:Mandible / Q000601:surgery*; D008875:Middle Aged; D016348:Osseointegration / Q000502:physiology; D011862:Radiography, Panoramic; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014732:Vibration
chemical_list: D015921:Dental Implants