Rationale for the application of immediate load in implant dentistry: Part I.

Immediate loading in implant dentistry is increasing in popularity as a clinical procedure. A scientific rationale of immediate occlusal loading of the implant support system should emphasize methods to decrease surgical trauma during implant placement and to decrease bone loading trauma during the early loading period. The surgical trauma may be reduced by decreasing heat generation and pressure necrosis. The early loading trauma may be decreased by decreasing the bone strain adjacent to the implant interface. Greater microstrain conditions in bone increase the remodeling rate of bone. The higher the remodeling rate, the weaker the bone and the more risk of occlusal overload. Occlusal overload may lead to implant failure. Since strain is directly related to stress, methods to decrease stress are beneficial. In the present report, the stress-reducing influences include increasing the number of implants.