Objectives: The aim of this prospective study was to evaluate the concept of intra-oral welding as a suitable technique for the fabrication of a restoration for edentulous mandibles on the same day as surgery using tapered connection implants.
Material and methods: Each of 20 patients had an edentulous mandible and received four inter-foraminal, tapered connection implants. All implants were immediately loaded with a fixed restoration supported by an intra-orally welded titanium framework. Final abutments were connected to the implants and then a titanium bar was welded to them using an intra-oral welding unit. This framework was used as a support for the final restoration, which was fitted on the same day as implant placement. Mean marginal bone loss and radiographically detectable alteration of the welded framework were assessed using periapical radiographs immediately after surgery, and at 6-, 12- and 24-month follow-up examinations.
Results: Seven males and 13 females, with an average age of 56.5 years (SD=15.1; n=20), were consecutively treated with 80 immediately loaded implants. No fracture or radiographically detectable alteration of the welded frameworks was evident. All implants osseointegrated and a 100% implant survival rate was achieved at the 24-month follow-up. The accumulated mean marginal bone growth was 0.21 mm (SD 0.25, n=80). The average pocket probing depth was 1.38 mm (SD 0.41).
Conclusions: The intra-oral welding technique applied to the delivery of a final restoration of the edentulous mandible over immediately restored tapered connection implants seems to have no adverse effect on marginal bone loss and implant survival.