Immediately loaded blade implant retrieved from a after a 20-year loading period: a histologic and histomorphometric case report.

Immediate loading of root-form dental implants has shown promising results and offers treatment cost and convenience advantages to patients. Although blade implants have been immediately loaded for over 2 decades, the ability of this implant design to achieve osseointegration has been debated. The aim of the present study was to histologically evaluate the peri-implant tissues of an immediately loaded blade implant retrieved for abutment fracture after a 20-year loading period. Histologic samples were prepared and examined by light microscope. Compact, cortical, mature bone with well-formed osteons was present at the interface of the implant. Bone-to-implant contact was 51% +/- 6%. The histologic data showed that osseointegration was obtained in an immediately loaded blade implant inserted into the mandible, and that mineralized tissues were maintained at the interface over a long period (20 years).