Assessment of Trends of ITI Implant Placement and Loading Protocols

Objectives: Objective: To assess trends abiding by the ITI defined protocols for implant placement and loading in the maxillary anterior region in partially edentulous patients at Tufts University School of Dental Medicine (TUSDM).
Methods: Methods: 468 implants were used as part of this literature review regarding implant placement and loading levels within the esthetic zone between 2014-2018. The data regarding the implants were extracted from Axium using a data extraction program at TUSDM, after receiving IRB approval to access the information. The implants were then categorized by the ITI placement protocol: immediate implant placement (Type 1), early implant placement after 4-8 weeks (Type 2), early implant placement after 12-16 weeks (Type 3), or delayed implant placement (Type 4). Furthermore, the implant loading is categorized into three ITI loading protocols: immediate loading (abutment placement within 1 week of the implant placement), early loading (abutment placement on the implant between 1 week and 2 months) and conventional loading (abutment placement beyond 2 months following implant placement). The ITI procedures were defined in Table 1 below.
Results: Results: 53.2% of the ITI procedures at TUSDM were 4C (conventional placement with conventional loading), followed by 1C (immediate placement with conventional loading) at 17.5%. See Table 3 below.
Conclusions: Conclusion: Conventional placement with conventional loading (4C) was the most frequent placement and loading protocol in the esthetic zone at TUSDM with 225 implants out of a total 468 implants between 2014-2018.