Immediate versus Delayed Loading of Mandibular Bar Retained Implant Overdenture

Abstract

Immediate implant loading protocol is popular to patients' over the delayed loading protocol. Due to its high risks association, documented results were essential. Study objective; assess the bone height and density change using direct digital radiography in immediately loaded implants connected by a bar, and compare the results with those of the delayed loaded implants. 10 completely edentulous patients participated in a randomized controlled trial. All patients were treated by; conventional maxillary complete denture; mandibular overdenture supported by a prefabricated bar connecting two implants placed in the canine region. Patients were randomly divided into; test group (Group A) with immediate loaded implants and control group (Group B) with implants submerged and loaded three months after insertion. Intraoral direct digital radiography used to measurement marginal bone height level and radiodensitometric analysis of bone at intervals time of loading at 3, 6, 9 and 12 months. The result statistically revealed: an insignificant difference (p ≤ 0.05) D.H. El Khatib et al. 22 in the mean marginal bone loss between both groups; a significant increase (p ≤ 0.05) in the bone density measurements adjacent to the immediately loaded implants from time of loading. In conclusion, immediate loading of two mandibular implants splinted passive bar is a predictable alternative treatment comparable to delayed loading.