Immediate loading of overdentures: systematic review

Introduction The goal of implant treatment is the formation of a direct bone–implant interface contact. Purpose This study aimed to evaluate the possibilities of immediate loading treatment for edentulous patients rehabilitated with mandibular and maxillary overdentures. Material and methods A literature review using the PubMed and BIREME databases between the periods of 1977 and 2011 was performed. Results From an initial yield of 218 titles, 78 articles were selected for text analysis, finally resulting in 23 studies (16 prospective, 6 prospective randomized, and 1 prospective multicenter) that met the inclusion criteria. Conclusion The immediate loading protocol through which the implants are subjected to occlusal function immediately after their placement was introduced to overcome this limitation.