Immediate Loading of Single-Tooth Restorations: One-Year Prospective Results

Abstract Immediate loading of splinted implant restorations is a growing trend, but limited clinical documentation hampers evidence-based treatment planning for single-tooth applications. This study prospectively evaluated the clinical efficacy of placing implant-supported, single-tooth restorations into immediate, full-occlusal loading. Sixty consecutive patients (intent-to-treat group) with 1 missing tooth between 2 intact teeth were treated with a total of 69 implants. At placement, final impressions were made and implants were provisionalized with nonoccluding prostheses. Definitive prostheses were delivered 2 weeks later. A claim of noninferiority was made with a 95% confidence interval (Mann-Whitney U test) if the success rates between the experimental group and a 97% historical control was >7%. Standardized radiographs taken at placement and bimonthly intervals were analyzed for crestal bone changes at a type I (alpha) error level of .05; significance levels were not adjusted for multiplicity (Fish...