A pilot study on immediate loading dental implants

Evolution in the field of dental implantology made the replacement of missing tooth easy and quick. During initial phase of evolution, there was a need of 3 to 6 months of healing period to get teeth on implants but with advancement of technology and research, immediate replacement of missing teeth without waiting period could become a possibility. To access the efficacy of immediate loading in dental implantology using Hexacone® (IHDE DENTAL - Switzerland) dental implant. The objectives were to evaluate pain, infection, recession, loosening of abutment, fracture of implant/crown, de-cementation, peri-implant radiolucency, and marginal bone loss. Five patients (3 male and 2 female) who needed teeth replacement were included in the study. Among 5 patients, 3 patients needed single tooth replacement and the remaining 2 needed segmental replacement. Out of 7 implants 6 implants were placed in the healed bone and 1 was placed in the extraction socket. In case of healed bone, permanent prosthesis were given on 3 day. In case of extraction site, temporary acrylic crown was given on 2 day, which was replaced by permanent prosthesis after 3 month. These patients were evaluated at 7 day, 1 month, 3 months, 6 months and 12 months clinically and radiographically. Infection, prosthetic problems, peri-apical radiolucency, and implant mobility were not observed and marginal bone loss was observed during follow-up periods. On 6 months follow up, 0.5mm and 0.45mm marginal mean bone loss was observed on mesial and distal aspect respectively whereas the same was 1.24mm and 1.14 mm on 12 months follow-up respectively.The immediate loading for dental implants is a successful procedure that decreases the time for the patients to obtain a final restoration satisfying both esthetical and functional problems. Immediately loaded implants survive equally well in extraction socket. No significant difference was seen in survival when implants were placed in healed bone and extraction socket.