Abstract
The purpose of this study is to suggest 4 immediate load of implants techniques that are alternative and/or complementary to the traditional submersion technique. These techniques meet the criteria for implant immobilization during the entire period of osteointegration, and are based on the principles of splinting and load sharing. One hundred fifty-three maxillary and 309 mandibular arches were treated with 1301 implants. Only implants that satisfied the primary retention were immediately loaded with a provisional crown with wings (94), provisional plastic prosthesis (478), provisional plastic prosthesis with metal frame (293), and intraoral welding (436). Facies morphology, type of occlusion, size and function of the tongue, bone density, number, and length of implants appeared to have an influence on the results. Success rates achieved over 21 years are 99.3% with the intraoral welding machine, 98.3% with the provisional plastic prosthesis with metal frame, 97.9% with metal wings, and 88.02% with provisional plastic prosthesis. This last percentage is reflective of the years 1974 to 1984 when only blade-forms and root-forms with unscrewable abutments were available and a provisional plastic prosthesis was the only immobilization technique known. Guidelines are proposed for a treatment plan indicating when and why immediate loading implants can be suggested.
