title: Immediate loading of mandibular overdentures supported by unsplinted direct laser metal-forming implants: results from a 1-year prospective study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  At present, only some studies have dealt with immediate loading of unsplinted implants supporting mandibular overdentures. The aim of this prospective study is to evaluate treatment outcomes of mandibular overdentures supported by four one-piece, unsplinted, immediately loaded, direct laser metal-forming (DLMF) implants by assessing implant survival rate, implant success, marginal bone loss, and prosthetic complications.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 96 one-piece DLMF implants were inserted in the edentulous mandible of 24 patients. Four implants were placed in each edentulous mandible. Immediately after implant placement, a mandibular overdenture was connected to the implants. At 1-year follow-up, clinical, radiographic, and prosthetic parameters were assessed. Success criteria included absence of pain, suppuration, and implant mobility; absence of continuous peri-implant radiolucency; and distance between the implant shoulder and the first visible bone contact <1.5 mm.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After a 1-year loading time, the overall implant survival rate was 98.9%, with only one implant lost. Among the surviving 95 implants, two did not fulfill the success criteria; therefore, the implant success rate was 97.8%. The mean distance between the implant shoulder and the first visible bone contact was 0.28 ± 0.30 mm (95% confidence interval, 0.24 to 0.32). Some prosthetic complications were reported.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Based on the present results and within the limits of this study, the immediate loading of four unsplinted DLMF implants by means of ball attachment-supported mandibular overdentures seems to represent a safe and successful procedure.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomaterials, Dental School, University of Varese, Varese, Italy. camangan@gmail.com
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mangano
authors.forename: Francesco G
authors.initials: FG
authors.lastname: Mangano
authors.forename: Jamil A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Shibli
authors.forename: Massimiliano
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ricci
authors.forename: Vittoria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Perrotti
authors.forename: Susana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: d'Avila
authors.forename: Adriano
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Piattelli
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000497:Alloys; D003722:Dental Alloys; D003758:Dental Implantation, Endosseous; D015921:Dental Implants; D017267:Dental Prosthesis Design / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D019094:Dental Prosthesis, Implant-Supported; D019232:Dental Restoration Failure; D003834:Denture Precision Attachment; D003828:Denture, Overlay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D057893:Immediate Dental Implant Loading; D007575:Jaw, Edentulous / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000601:surgery; D007834:Lasers; D008297:Male; D008334:Mandible; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011859:Radiography; D016019:Survival Analysis; D014025:Titanium; D015018:Ytterbium
chemical_list: D000497:Alloys; D003722:Dental Alloys; D015921:Dental Implants; C031462:titanium alloy (TiAl6V4); D014025:Titanium; D015018:Ytterbium