Effects of Early Moderate Loading on Implant Stability: A Retrospective Investigation of 634 Implants with Platform Switching and Morse-Tapered Connections

Purpose: This retrospective investigation aimed to evaluate the effect of early moderate loading (EML) on implant stability. Materials and Methods: Following 6 weeks of conventional healing, 634 dental implants (Ankylos®, Dentsply Implants, Mannheim, Germany) inserted in 247 patients were uncovered. Provisional restorations were placed in infra-occlusion in partially edentulous patients and in full occlusion in edentulous patients. Patients were instructed to consume a soft/liquid diet until final restorations were delivered after approximately 6 weeks. Periotest values (PTVs) at the time of uncovering and after EML were assessed in order to calculate the change in PTV (ΔPTV). Improvement of the PTV was analyzed to account for dependencies between measurements on multiple implants of a single patient, along with other factors. Results: No implant was lost during the EML. After a mean loading time of 3 years (±1.7 years), the implant survival rate was 98.74%. The PTV of 556 implants decreased (improved) over the course of the study. The ΔPTV was statistically significant (p=.0001), and none of the factors analyzed appeared to influence it. Conclusions: The EML of implants does not impair the implants' stability, as determined by Periotest. On the contrary, early moderate loading seems to be beneficial at compromised bone qualities.