title: Assessment of rehabilitation in edentulous patients treated with an immediately loaded complete fixed mandibular prosthesis supported by three implants.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Conventionally, in patients with completely edentulous mandibles, fixed prostheses have been supported by four or more implants. However, an alternative protocol employing three implants and immediate loading has been developed. The objective of the present study was to assess the rehabilitation of edentulous patients treated with a complete fixed mandibular prosthesis with immediate loading and supported by three implants.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this observational study, a total of 99 implants placed in 33 patients was evaluated after 18 months in use. Panoramic radiographs were digitized to measure bone loss at the mesial and distal surfaces of each implant.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean peri-implant bone loss was 0.66 ± 0.51 mm for the left implant, 0.92 ± 0.61 mm for the central implant, and 0.82 ± 0.53 mm for the right implant. The bone loss observed around the distal implants was similar to that seen around the central implant, and there were no statistically significant differences in peri-implant bone loss between the three implant locations. There was no significant correlation between implant length and bone loss. The results were compatible with the peri-implant bone loss that has been described for prostheses of the same type supported by larger numbers of implants.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The use of a complete fixed mandibular prosthesis with immediate loading supported by three implants proved to be an adequate option for the rehabilitation of edentulous patients. The protocol allowed simplification of treatment while maintaining similar bone loss to that reported for the same type of treatment supported by a larger number of implants.
authors.affiliation: Department of Implant Dentistry, Dental School, Universidade Luterana do Brasil, Canoas, RS, Brazil. elkenrivaldo@gmail.com
authors.forename: Elken Gomes
authors.initials: EG
authors.lastname: Rivaldo
authors.forename: Aline
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Montagner
authors.forename: Hugo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nary
authors.forename: Luis Carlos
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: da Fontoura Frasca
authors.forename: Per-Ingvar
authors.initials: PI
authors.lastname: Brånemark
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016301:Alveolar Bone Loss / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology*; D001938:Brazil; D003758:Dental Implantation, Endosseous / Q000379:methods; D015921:Dental Implants / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000191:economics; D017267:Dental Prosthesis Design; D019094:Dental Prosthesis, Implant-Supported; D003826:Denture, Complete, Lower; D003827:Denture, Complete, Upper; D003906:Developing Countries; D005260:Female; D054625:Healthcare Disparities; D006801:Humans; D057893:Immediate Dental Implant Loading; D007575:Jaw, Edentulous / Q000534:rehabilitation* / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008334:Mandible / Q000601:surgery; D063168:Mandibular Osteotomy; D008875:Middle Aged; D008953:Models, Anatomic; D061646:Operative Time; D011859:Radiography; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D025321:Surgery, Computer-Assisted; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D015921:Dental Implants