Background: Results from some studies clearly suggest that immediate loading can achieve equal success rates as those found in delayed or unloaded implants. There is still a lack of knowledge about the role of surface oxide properties during the peri-implant bone healing processes.
Purpose: The aim of this study was a clinical follow-up study of immediately loaded implants with a porous anodized surface.
Materials and methods: A total of 142 TiUnite (Nobel Biocare, Göteborg, Sweden) implants were inserted from January to September 2001. All implants have been used in fixed restorations. Fifty implants were inserted in completely edentulous mandibles, and 69 implants were inserted in completely edentulous maxillae. All 119 implants were subjected to immediate functional loading (IFL) (immediate restoration with full occlusal contact). The other 23 implants, inserted in 12 patients, underwent immediate nonfunctional loading (INFL) (immediate restoration without occlusal contact) in different anatomical configurations (single tooth, small bridges in the anterior mandible, anterior maxilla, and posterior maxilla). All 142 implants have been followed for at least 3 years.
Results: All implants appeared to be osseointegrated from a clinical and radiographic point of view. No failures were observed in the IFL and INFL groups. The implant success was 100%. The mean marginal bone loss was 0.8 and 1.0 mm at 12 and 36 months, respectively.
Conclusion: Implants with a porous anodized surface appear to work well under an immediate loading state in the long term.