Early loading of nonsubmerged titanium implants with a sandblasted and acid-etched (SLA) surface: 3-year results of a prospective study in partially edentulous patients.

PURPOSE

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.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

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.

RESULTS

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%.

DISCUSSION

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.

CONCLUSION

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.