Early loading of splinted implants in the posterior mandible: a prospective multicentre case series.

AIM: To evaluate the 12-months clinical and radiological outcomes with the OsseoSpeed() TX implant using an early loading protocol in patients with missing teeth in the posterior mandible. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Forty-five subjects, with Kennedy class I or II edentulism in the mandible, were enrolled at three centres in China. Two or three implants were placed in one edentulous region using a one-stage procedure. Patients received a screw-retained splinted fixed permanent restoration in one edentulous region 6-8 weeks after surgery. Follow-up took place at 6 and 12 months after loading. Marginal bone level alteration, implant survival and clinical findings were assessed using descriptive statistics. The data were analysed on a patient level, implying that the mean overall implants by patient was used as the statistical unit. The data from the three centres were pooled in the statistical analyses. RESULTS: A total of 107 implants were inserted in 45 patients. Twelve months after loading, the implant survival rate was 100%, with a mean (+/- std) marginal bone gain of 0.08 +/- 0.411 mm and healthy soft tissue status. CONCLUSIONS: Early loading of splinted OsseoSpeed() TX implants was an effective and safe treatment for partial edentulism of the posterior mandible. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER ON CLINICALTRIALS.GOV: NCT01346683.