Immediate loading: From biology to biomechanics. Report of the Committee on Research in Fixed Prosthodontics of the American Academy of Fixed Prosthodontics

One of the key issues of modern implant rehabilitation is the overall shortening of treatment time. High survival rates for immediately loaded implants have been reported in many but not all treatment modalities. In recent years, considerable evidence for the successful immediate loading outcome has been documented in both animal and human studies. The mechanical force generated by immediate loading may explain the favorable biologic response of bone and surrounding tissue when the design is biomechanically sound. However, in certain treatment modalities, including but not limited to immediately placed maxillary anterior single implants, immediately placed single molar implants, unsplinted implants in overdentures, and implants in maxillary anterior partial fixed dental prostheses, loading dental implants indiscriminately and immediately is not safe because of potentially unfavorable stress distribution and a negative cellular response under such high stress during early healing.