Clinical and radiographic evaluation of early loaded free-standing dental implants with various coatings in beagle dogs

Statement of problem. Immediate loading of implants mall be a predictable treatment alternative when cross-arch stabilization with a fixed. provisional is observed. Purpose. This study investigated. the effect of immediate masticatory loading on the stability of single standing dental implants with 4 different surfaces. Material and methods. A total of 40 solid screw implants (diameter 3.3 mm, length 8 mm) were placed in the mandibles of 4 beagle dogs. Test groups included 3 hydroxyapatite (PW) coatings of titanium plasma-sprayed (TPS) implants. Implants with TPS alone served as control. Gold crowns were inserted 2 days after implant placement and the dogs were immediately put on a hard food diet. Implants were followed for 6 months after loading. Clinical and radiographic assessments of implants were performed at time of crown insertion (baseline) and after 1,3, and 6 months of loading. The Periotest instrument was used For mobility measurements and radiographs were obtained for evaluation of peri-implant radiolucency and measurement of crestal bone changes. Results. Of 40 implants, 39 displayed no discernible mobility, corresponding to successful clinical function Peri-implant radiolucencies were absent for all but the 1 mobile implant. The: reduction in crestal bone levels adjacent to the implants between baseline and 6 months was statistically significant (P<.0001). No sta statistically significant differences in crestal bone level changes over time were found between the various coatings demonstrating the absence of a treatment effect initiated by the surface coatings. Conclusion. In this Study ill beagle dogs, immediate masticatory lending of single-standing dental implants did not jeopardize tissue integration, provided the implants had excellent primary stability.