Seven-Year Follow-Up Results of TiUnite Implants Supporting Mandibular Overdentures: Early versus Delayed Loading

Background and Purpose: Implant-supported mandibular overdentures have recently become a popular treatment alternative for edentulous patients desiring increased retention of complete dentures. The goal of this study was to evaluate and present treatment outcomes of mandibular overdentures retained by two unsplinted, early-loaded implants and compare these results with those for delayed-loaded implants. Material and Methods: Twenty-six edentulous patients had two interforaminal implants placed with a one-stage protocol. The patients were each treated with a mandibular overdenture supported by ball abutments. In the test group, the overdenture was loaded 1 week after surgery and in the control group, the overdenture was loaded 3 months after surgery. Standardized clinical and radiographic parameters were recorded at surgery, and after 3, 6, 12, and 18 months, and 2, 3, 4, 5, and 7 years. Results: Because two patients did not make the 7-year recall, only 24 patients (48 implants) were evaluated in this study. No implants were lost, and 1.31 +/- 0.2 mm marginal bone resorption was noted for all implants after 7 years. Implant stability measurements, clinical peri-implant parameters and marginal bone levels exhibited no statistically significant differences between the two groups over 7 years. Conclusion: The results of this clinical trial show that there is no significant difference in the clinical and radiographic outcomes of patients treated with mandibular overdentures supported by TiUnite implants that are either early or delayed loaded.