At Crooke Dental Clinic, we use the immediate loading technique. We often use this term with our patients in the field of dentistry, and they immediately respond, “What is that?” It is one of the many questions people have about this innovative technique.
In this post, we will try to answer them all!
What is immediate loading? How is it done?
We explain what immediate loading is
The traditional way of placing implants is to first insert the implant and then, after a period of 3 to 6 months, place the tooth. This period of time is called osseointegration.
Immediate load implants involve placing the implant and screwing a temporary tooth (always fixed, not removable) onto it immediately after surgery or within 24 hours.
In some cases, we also perform immediate implants, meaning that everything is done at the same time: extraction of the damaged teeth and placement of the implant. If the implant is in a cosmetic area or involves complete oral rehabilitation, we also place temporary crowns or pieces.
With this technique, we “skip” this waiting period, which for many people is a reason not to want to undergo implant treatment.
The patient leaves the clinic with their best smile, without having to wait months to show it off. After three months, the dentist will fit the permanent prosthesis, which is of a higher quality and more aesthetically pleasing than the temporary one.
If immediate loading is done well, we can achieve much better results with our permanent prostheses. At Crooke Dental Clinic, we are prepared to offer you the best treatment with the utmost safety. Digitalisation, our 3 Step Smiles system and our years of experience give us the security and confidence to take on any challenge.
Critics of the immediate loading technique argue that loading implants before osseointegration has occurred increases the risk of treatment. There is no doubt that this is an advanced implantology technique that requires extensive experience on the part of the professional performing it, but it is neither dangerous nor counterproductive.
The immediate loading technique is made possible by scanners and software that allow for 3D planning of the procedure. When the patient’s mouth can be virtually recreated from digital images, the dentist can work with maximum reliability and safety. The final result of the surgery is completely predictable. In other words, simulating the procedure on the computer allows for maximum precision when placing the implant.
Am I suitable for immediate loading? How can I find out?
Although immediate loading is a technique endorsed and used by the vast majority of dentists, a preliminary study must be carried out on patients who meet some of the following characteristics:
- Patients with a disease (such as diabetes) that affects their immune system or the body’s ability to heal itself.
- Patients with periodontal problems.
- Patients who do not have sufficient bone mass to place the implant (although they may choose to do so after a fully healed graft if their dentist considers it feasible).
- Patients who smoke.
To ensure the success of immediate loading, there are several factors to consider. The first is to have good professional judgement in order to make a good diagnosis.
As in any speciality, the dentist’s experience and the number of procedures performed will be a factor influencing the success of the treatment. The longer the professional career, the higher the success rate tends to be.
We know that the osseointegration process depends on good primary stability (implant placement) and secondary stability (once the implant has osseointegrated and how it is maintained over time). These depend on:
- The quality and quantity of bone
- Adaptation of the implant to the osteotomy
- Implant design and shape
- The patient’s oral health and dental maintenance
All of the above are very important because they determine whether immediate loading of the implants is possible. To see if a patient meets the requirements for immediate loading, primary stability measurement systems such as Perio-Test or Ostell have been developed.
What are the advantages of immediate loading?
Numerous studies have positively evaluated the immediate loading technique, concluding that it is predictable in terms of osseointegration and marginal bone maintenance. Among the advantages, we can highlight the following:
- Immediate loading allows you to regain the functionality of your teeth; you can chew normally and speak properly within the first 24 hours after tooth extraction. Obviously, it is not possible to chew normally until the permanent crowns are fitted (often this is also because the patient is afraid to do so).
- In less than 24 hours, you will already be using a fixed temporary prosthesis, without the need to wear a removable prosthesis. Therefore, the patient does not have to suffer the discomfort of wearing a removable prosthesis (mobility, sores, difficulty speaking, loss of taste in food, etc.). This facilitates gradual adaptation to the subsequent permanent fixed prosthesis and ensures that the patient does not lose self-esteem and confidence during the process.
- It reduces and even eliminates the waiting time for new fixed teeth in the mouth, resulting in a noticeable improvement in the patient’s quality of life.
- It can reduce the number of sessions and surgical procedures (avoiding a second-stage operation), which increases patient acceptance.
- In cases of complete oral rehabilitation, it prevents the loss of more teeth and provides great comfort. The prosthesis cannot move, is not unstable and does not wobble, so it usually gives the patient a great sense of security.
- From the very first minute, when the temporary crown is placed, the gum takes shape based on that temporary piece. When the final prosthesis is placed, the gum accepts it without any problems. Furthermore, from an aesthetic point of view, the result is optimal.
Over the last 30 years, several long-term studies have been conducted, with patient follow-ups lasting between 5 and 10 years. All of these studies have established survival rates (implant success) of between 97% and 100%. In other words, the new parts are not rejected by the patient’s mouth.
In short, our patients will be able to benefit from increasingly less invasive and shorter implant treatments. But let us not forget that immediate aesthetics is not always synonymous with immediate loading.
Immediate loading should not be performed systematically, but rather on a case-by-case basis, with patients who meet the requirements and are suitable for this technique.
At Crooke Dental Clinic, we guarantee successful treatment, with a team of professionals at your disposal who will guide you from your very first call so that you feel at home even before you begin your treatment with us.