Abstract
Introduction: The study is aimed to compare the clinical outcome of immediate and delayed loaded single tooth implants in replacement of mandibular posterior tooth in consideration with implant stability quotient, bleeding on probing, probing depth, implant mobility, marginal bone loss and peri-implant radiolucency. Materials and Methods: The study consisted of 20 patients who were divided into two groups and compared: Group A is an immediately loaded group with ten patients who received implants in the mandibular posterior tooth region along with abutment on the same day and acrylic crown placed within 48 h and the second group is a conventionally loaded group of ten patients who received the implant in the mandibular posterior tooth region in which the cover screw was placed and conventionally loaded after 3 months. Implant stability quotient, implant mobility, bone loss and peri-implantitis were assessed at 1st and 6th months after loading. All patients were evaluated for the parameters at 1st, 3rd and 6th months after loading in both the groups. Results: Probing depths obtained for all twenty patients after 1 and 6 months of loading were within the normal range (1-3 mm). In Group A, the mean probing depth after 1-month loading was 1.8 mm with a standard deviation (SD) of 0.63 and after 6 months of loading 1.2 mm with SD 0.42. In Group B, the mean of the probing depth after 1 month of loading is 1.8 mm with SD 0.42 and remained the same post loading after 6 months. Marginal bone loss was measured mesially and distally after 1 month and 6 months in both the groups. The standard intraoral periapical radiograph was used to evaluate peri-implant radiolucency. No patient showed peri-implantitis for 6-month follow-up after loading of implants. Conclusion: Immediate loading of an implant in a single mandibular posterior tooth can be an effective treatment modality and a promising alternative to delayed loading.