Abstract
Interest in the concept of immediate or early loading of dental implants is increasing. The survival of these implants, particularly in the anterior mandible, has been demonstrated in a variety of clinical reports for different implant systems. However, to make immediate loading a reality for the patient, the restorative dentist must coordinate care with the surgeon and the laboratory fabricating the prosthesis. This article describes a method that allows restoration of the edentulous mandible in 2 days.
Five implants were placed in the mandible and restored in 2 days with a final fixed-detachable prosthesis that was fabricated using the OSU Frame. There is little change to the surgical protocol whether the implants are loaded immediately or loading was delayed. The step-by-step technique is described.
There are several benefits to this method over those currently available. No changes in surgical armamentarium technique are required. The technique may be adapted to any implant system and it offers improved flexibility over the existing systems. The OSU Frame accommodates variability in arch form and suboptimal implant placement, facilitating immediate implant loading with the final prosthesis for nearly any edentulous implant patient.