Depending on the indication it can take between three to twelve months to complete dental implant treatment, with potentially multiple trips to the dentist required for various elements of the process. When appropriate, immediate implant placement and immediate implant loading offer an opportunity to shorten time-to-teeth and reduce the number of visits, benefiting both the practice and patient

What is immediate implant placement?

Immediate implant placement is when an implant is placed at the same time as the natural tooth is extracted. 

What is immediate loading?

Immediate loading, otherwise known as Immediate Function, involves the placement of a restoration within 48 hours of implant placement. It can be applied if sufficient primary stability is achieved – for a single tooth restoration, this is known as immediate provisionalization.

The technique was developed in response to patients’ growing demand for quicker treatment and faster time-to-teeth. Ledermann was the first to document successful healing of immediately loaded implants, which were placed in the anterior part of the mandible, but Schnitman etal. were first to explore the possibility of successfully fixing a partial prosthesis to immediately loaded implants. Among the several long-term studies performed since then with 5-10 years’ follow-up, high cumulative survival rates, such as around 97% – 100% were reported for immediately loaded implants placed in extraction sites for any indication. To avoid loading a restoration, the provisional should be taken out of occlusion or the patient should be instructed to follow a soft diet.

Benefits to the patient and practice

In suitable cases, immediate placement and immediate loading offer an array of benefits for the patient, including shorter treatment time and significantly reduced time (if any) spent with a gap in the dentition since the esthetic restorations are provided on the day of surgery.  when compared to four other treatment protocols. It may therefore offer a suitable solution for high patient satisfaction, when clinically indicated.

Immediate implant placement and provisionalization have been used with good predictability in clinical practice. Immediate loading reduces the need for surgical intervention and complex bone grafting procedures that might otherwise be required to restore resorbed ridges. The one-stage technique offers a simplified surgical workflow and subjects the patient to one surgery instead of two. Improvements in patients’ post-operative experience following flapless approaches for single-tooth rehabilitation have been reported. Successful cases of the immediate loading protocol have also been reported for multiple implant placement.

With close collaboration between oral surgeon, prosthodontist and lab technician, immediate implant placement and immediate loading can provide a unique selling proposition (USP). This can form an integral part of a marketing strategy, ensuring the practice is more attractive than others in the local vicinity, or even further afield.

Importance of choosing the right implant system

Fulfilling expectations

Patients want to be treated in an efficient and expedient manner. When seeking a solution, they want safe and effective treatment that can be performed in the shortest possible time and with as little pain and discomfort as possible. Immediate implant placement and loading are valuable techniques for the clinician to call upon, but their skill and experience, as well as case selection, are all crucial elements to ensure successful long-term results.