Clinical and radiologic evaluation of 70 immediately loaded single implants in the maxillary esthetic zone: preliminary results after 1 year of functional loading.

PURPOSE: A key challenge in implant treatment in the esthetic zone is to provide patients with crowns and peri-implant mucosa that are in harmony with the adjacent teeth to restore both function and esthetics. The aim of the present study was to show the preliminary results of an immediate loading protocol in the maxillary esthetic zone that is designed to preserve the soft tissue. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients were treated with immediately loaded single-tooth implants (Seven, MIS). Implants were inserted in fresh postextraction sites or in single edentulous sites with clinically and radiologically healed bone. After 8 weeks of loading, the provisional crowns and abutments were modified as needed to enhance the esthetics of the gingival margins. Definitive restorations were delivered 4 to 6 months postoperatively. RESULTS: Seventy patients were treated; 25 implants were placed in fresh extraction sites, and the remaining 45 implants were inserted in healed single edentulous sites. All implants were stable, and radiographs showed complete osseointegration after 1 year of functional loading. CONCLUSIONS: The present study shows promising results for immediate loading of single implants. All implant sites fulfilled success criteria in terms of function and esthetics, and particularly promising results were seen following additional adjustments of the provisional restorations to preserve interdental papillae.

A comparative study of bone densitometry during osseointegration: piezoelectric surgery versus rotary protocols.

OBJECTIVES: To date, there have been no studies on the outcome of osseointegration of alveolar bone around dental implants inserted with piezoelectric osteotomy versus conventional osteotomy. The aim of this study was to compare the radiographic differences, through evaluation of peri-implant bone density, between implant insertion using traditional surgical technique and piezoelectric technique. METHOD AND MATERIALS: Forty patients were selected whose treatment consisted of a minimum of two implants placed in nonpathologic native bone. A single type of implant surface (SLA) was chosen. The implants were placed following the manufacturer protocol for traditional surgical technique and piezoelectric technique. Radiographs were taken following surgery and 30, 60, and 90 days after surgery. The bone density was studied with the densitometry application. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: All patients completed the study period with success. Despite a limited number of treated patients, the results of this pilot study demonstrated that (1) piezoelectric implant site preparation promotes better bone density and osteogenesis, and (2) the piezoelectric technique is predictable, with a 100% success rate in this study.