One-year prospective evaluation of the early loading of unsplinted conical Brånemark fixtures with mandibular overdentures immediately following surgery.

BACKGROUND: Prospective evaluation of the early loading of unsplinted Brånemark implants with mandibular overdentures opposing conventional dentures is not evident in the implant-related literature.
PURPOSE: To clinically evaluate progressive and early loading of 20 unsplinted conical Brånemark implants in edentulous mandibles with overdentures.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ten edentulous patients all had two conical Brånemark implants placed in the anterior mandible with mandatory primary stability with bicortical anchorage. Ball abutment connection was performed simultaneously. Previously constructed conventional mandibular dentures were temporarily relined with tissue conditioner postoperatively and worn with moderation for the first 2 weeks to allow progressive loading. Early loading of the implants followed after 2 weeks, with inclusion of the respective matrices in the mandibular dentures, using a definitive reline procedure.
RESULTS: All patients successfully functioned with their mandibular implant overdentures from 2 to 52 weeks postoperatively. Mean marginal bone loss was within established criteria for success: 0.22 mm (SD = 0.48 mm) mesially and 0.30 mm (SD = 0.39 mm) distally on the conical implants. Mobility tests using the Periotest instrument became more negative, although not at statistically significant levels. Difficulties in the management of the peri-implant mucosa between surgery and loading at 2 weeks were observed in 40% of the patients.
CONCLUSIONS: These preliminary 1-year results show that successful early loading of unsplinted conical Brånemark implants with mandibular overdentures is possible.