Early loading of non‐submerged titanium implants with a sandblasted and acid‐etched surface

TLDR

The study aimed to assess the 3‑year success rate of early‑loaded ITI implants with a sandblasted and acid‑etched surface after a 6‑week healing period in partially edentulous patients. In a prospective cohort of 104 implants placed in 51 patients, all implants were functionally loaded with crowns or fixed partial dentures after 6 weeks and followed clinically and radiographically at 3, 12, 24, and 36 months. At 3 years, 102 of 104 implants (99.03 %) were successfully integrated, with stable peri‑implant tissues, no radiolucency, and maintained bone crest levels.

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the success rate of ITI implants with the SLA surface that were loaded after 6 weeks of healing.In this prospective cohort study, a total of 104 implants were placed in posterior sites of 51 partially edentulous patients exhibiting bone densities of Class 1, 2, or 3. After a healing period of 6 weeks, all implants were functionally loaded with cemented crowns or fixed partial dentures. The patients were recalled at 3, 12, 24, and 36 months for clinical and radiographic examination.One implant failed to integrate during healing, and 1 implant was lost to follow-up and considered a dropout. The remaining 102 implants showed favorable clinical and radiographic findings and were considered successfully integrated at the 3-year examination. This resulted in a 3-year success rate of 99.03%.The peri-implant soft tissues were stable over time, as evidenced by no changes in the mean probing depths and the mean attachment levels during the follow-up period. None of the radiographs exhibited signs of continuous peri-implant radiolucency, which confirmed ankylotic stability of all 102 implants. The radiographic evaluation of the bone level at the implant indicated stability of the bone crest levels.The results of this prospective study demonstrated that early loading of ITI implants with the SLA surface after an unloaded healing period of 6 weeks provided successful tissue integration with high predictability, and that successful tissue integration was well maintained up to 3 years of follow-up in this study population.