Computer-guided flapless placement and immediate loading of four conical screw-type implants in the edentulous mandible

• Published in: Clinical oral implants research 2007-08, Vol.18 (4), p.534-539
• Main Authors: Wittwer, Gert, Adeyemo, Wasiu Lanre, Wagner, Arne, Enislidis, Georg
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aged; computer-assisted navigation; Dental Implantation, Endosseous - methods; Dental Implants; Dental Prosthesis Design; Dental Prosthesis, Implant-Supported; Dental Restoration Failure; Dentistry; Denture, Complete, Immediate; Denture, Complete, Lower; Denture, Overlay; Female; flapless surgery; Humans; immediate loading; Jaw, Edentulous - diagnostic imaging; Jaw, Edentulous - rehabilitation; Jaw, Edentulous - surgery; Male; Mandible - surgery; Prospective Studies; Radiography; Surgery, Computer-Assisted; Treatment Outcome
• ISSN: 0905-7161; 1600-0501
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0501.2007.01370.x

Aim: The aim of this prospective study was to evaluate the outcome of computer‐guided flapless placement and immediate loading of four conical screw‐type implants in the interforaminal region. Patients and methods: From May to August 2003, 25 consecutive patients (m : f=16 : 9) with edentulous mandibles were included in the study. After transmucosal drilling with computer‐assisted navigation, four implants were placed in the interforaminal region. The lower dentures were converted and implants immediately loaded. Results: One‐hundred implants were successfully placed. In two patients, all implants had to be submerged because of insufficient primary stability of one of the implants; another patient declined to receive immediate loading of implants after surgery and was lost to follow‐up. During follow‐up of the remaining 22 patients with 88 immediately loaded implants, loosening of four implants (4.5%) was seen in three patients. In these cases, immediate loading was terminated and all implants submerged; subsequently, two implants were lost in one patient, while the other two implants re‐osseointegrated. The cumulative survival and success rates of immediately loaded implants were 97.7% after 2 years. Prosthetic success was 100%. Conclusion: Transmucosal computer‐assisted placement and immediate loading of mandibular implants is a high‐end approach to edentulism that provides excellent results while being minimally invasive.