Single Dental Implant in the Edentulous Mandible – Patients' Denture Satisfaction

Objectives: This multicenter randomized controlled clinical trial was conducted to show whether immediate loading of a single dental implant in the edentulous mandible will result in a comparable clinical outcome as using the standard protocol of closed healing with delayed loading. Here, the patients' denture satisfaction was analyzed.
Methods: One hundred and sixty-three edentulous patients received one implant in the midline of the mandible. In total, 185 patients were randomized and allocated either to the immediate loading group (n=81, group A) or the delayed loading group (n=77, group B). All patients completed visual analog scales regarding different denture satisfaction aspects at baseline, 1 and 4 months after implant loading and 4 weeks after implant placement (only group B). The statistical analysis was performed nonparametrically using the Wilcoxon signed rank and rank sum tests.
Results: Nine implants failed in group A and 1 implant failed in group B. Seventy-two patients from group A and 74 patients from group B attended the recall visit 4 months after implant loading. One month after loading, a significant increase in comfort, function and stability of the mandibular denture could be observed in both groups (p≤0.05). A slightly but not significant increase was visible between 1 and 4 months after loading. One and 4 months after loading, there was a significant difference between the two groups regarding function and stability of the mandibular denture (p≤0.05).
Conclusions: A single implant in the edentulous mandible increases denture satisfaction significantly. After 4 months, function and stability of the mandibular denture was better assessed, when a delayed loading protocol had been chosen.