title: Immediate loading with fixed implant-supported restorations in an edentulous patient with an HIV infection: a case report.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Oral rehabilitation of edentulous patients with implants that are immediately loaded is a viable treatment alternative today; however, the immediate loading protocol has not been extensively documented in HIV-seropositive patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  This clinical case report presents a surgical and prosthetic implant-supported immediate loading protocol in an edentulous HIV-seropositive patient (CD4 >200 and T4/T8: 0.99). Eight implants were placed in each jaw, and no ridge augmentation procedures were required. All the implants were connected with abutments, and a temporary fixed restoration was placed immediately after surgery. The final fixed reconstruction was cemented after 10 weeks of loading.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All implants showed no clinical signs of mobility or infection. Periotest values were evaluated during healing and showed a progressive reduction. Radiological findings showed stable bone levels after an observation period of 4 years.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This case report presents an alternative treatment for the oral rehabilitation of an HIV-positive (but disease asymptomatic) edentulous patient. The concept of immediate loading of implants offers advantages when compared with a traditional treatment modality even in immunocompromised patients who are well controlled.
authors.affiliation: *Professor and Associate Dean for Clinical Affairs, Stony Brook University, School of Dental Medicine, Department of Dental Medicine, Stony Brook, NY; Professor, Department of Oral Surgery and Implantology, Dental School, Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University, Frankfurt, Germany. †Department of Prosthodontics, New York University, College of Dentistry, New York, NY. ‡Chief Dental Technician, Dental laboratory, Farmingdale, NY. §Clinical Professor, Department of Periodontology and Implant Dentistry, College of Dentistry, New York University, New York, NY. ‖Director of Implant Education, Columbia University, New York, NY.
authors.forename: Georgios E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Romanos
authors.forename: Edward
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Goldin
authors.forename: Lennie
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Marotta
authors.forename: Stuart
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Froum
authors.forename: Dennis P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Tarnow
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D059605:Dental Implant-Abutment Design / Q000379:methods; D003758:Dental Implantation, Endosseous / Q000379:methods*; D019094:Dental Prosthesis, Implant-Supported / Q000379:methods*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009066:Mouth, Edentulous / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D011182:Postoperative Care / Q000379:methods