title: Immediate loading of unsplinted implants in the anterior mandible for overdentures: 3-year results.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This 3-year study evaluated the implant survival rate, peri-implant tissue response, prosthetic maintenance, and prosthetic complications in a series of patients who received two immediately loaded unsplinted threaded implants to retain a mandibular overdenture.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eight completely edentulous patients were evaluated clinically and radiographically immediately after implant placement, at 3 months, and at 1, 2, and 3 years after implant placement. Data were analyzed using repeated-measures one-way analysis of variance and the Wilcoxon signed rank test at a significance level of α = .05.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At 3 years, all implants remained osseointegrated (16/16), with an overall mean marginal bone change of -0.58 ± 0.39 mm and a mean Periotest value of -7.19 ± 0.54. The modified Plaque Index scores showed marked improvement in oral hygiene during the first year, but some relapse was observed thereafter. Prosthetic maintenance and complications included replacement of the attachment inserts, abutment loosening, dislodgement of the attachment housing, overdenture reline, denture tooth fracture, and overdenture base fracture.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This 3-year study suggests that, despite less than ideal oral hygiene and a high incidence of complete/partial fracture of overdentures, favorable implant survival rate and peri-implant tissue responses can be achieved in mandibular overdentures retained with two immediately loaded unsplinted threaded implants.
authors.affiliation: Department of Restorative Dentistry, Loma Linda University School of Dentistry, California 92350, USA. proe03d@llu.edu
authors.forename: Phillip
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Roe
authors.forename: Joseph Y K
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Kan
authors.forename: Kitichai
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Rungcharassaeng
authors.forename: Jaime L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Lozada
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D016301:Alveolar Bone Loss / Q000503:physiopathology; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D059605:Dental Implant-Abutment Design; D015921:Dental Implants; D003774:Dental Plaque Index; D019094:Dental Prosthesis, Implant-Supported; D019232:Dental Restoration Failure / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003779:Denture Design; D003780:Denture Repair / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003781:Denture Retention / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D003828:Denture, Overlay; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D057893:Immediate Dental Implant Loading; D007575:Jaw, Edentulous / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D008297:Male; D008334:Mandible; D008875:Middle Aged; D009910:Oral Hygiene; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D015921:Dental Implants