For many years, dental implants followed a strict protocol which included a healing period of several months between implant placement and the fixation of the prosthesis, whether provisional or definitive. This time was necessary to allow the implant to integrate (heal) into the bone through osseointegration. With the advancement of surgical techniques and implant materials and shapes, Immediate Loading has emerged as a revolutionary alternative.
In the immediate loading technique, the dentist can place the temporary prosthesis, whether it's a full arch for an entire jaw or for a single tooth, within a few hours or days after the implant placement surgery, without needing to wait months for complete osseointegration. This is possible thanks to the development of implants that provide high primary stability immediately after insertion, as well as surgical techniques adapted for this purpose.
Furthermore, digital pre-operative planning allows for precise implant placement, minimising the risk of complications, whether functional or aesthetic.
The main advantage of immediate loading is the comfort and convenience for the patient, who doesn't need to spend long periods without teeth or with temporary removable dentures. Seeing their aesthetic problem resolved in a short space of time with fixed teeth, smiling without embarrassment, and being able to eat again without a removable “plate” pressing on and hurting the treated area, are enormous benefits for patients, which should be taken advantage of whenever possible.
However, this technique demands careful evaluation and execution by experienced professionals. Not all patients and cases are ideal candidates for immediate loading; it is essential to ensure that bone quality, available bone quantity, and implant stability are adequate, as well as the provisional prosthesis being well-made and fitted, to minimise the probability of post-operative complications and not compromise implant healing.
