A 1-Year Prospective Clinical and Radiographic Study of Early-Loaded Bone Level Implants in the Posterior Maxilla

PurposesThe primary aim of the study was to investigate a 1-year success rate of early-loaded bone level implants with a chemically modified sand-blasted, large grit, acid-etched surface (SLActive (R), Institut Straumann AG, Basel, Switzerland) in the posterior maxilla. Secondary objectives included stability of these implants and peri-implant bone level. Materials and MethodsBone level (R) implants (Institut Straumann AG) inserted into premolar and/or molar maxillary sites were loaded after 6 weeks of healing. The implants were monitored for 1 year using the following outcome measures: implant success, primary and secondary stability, and peri-implant bone level. ResultsOut of 37 implants placed in 13 patients, 36 reached sufficient stability and were early loaded, whereas one underwent a delayed loading protocol. One-year success rate of early-loaded implants was 100%. Implant stability at baseline was 71.75. 6 to be steadily increased thereafter up to 1 year (80.3 +/- 3.3), except at 2 weeks when a nonsignificant decrease was noticed (71.9 +/- 3.9). Continuous and significant bone loss was observed, reaching 0.4 +/- 0.1mm in the first postoperative year. ConclusionBone level implants with the SLActive surface placed into low-density bone and loaded after 6 weeks of healing can predictably achieve and maintain a successful tissue integration.