Histologic Evaluation of an Immediately Loaded Titanium Implant Retrieved from a Human After 6 Months in Function

Clinical and histologic studies have demonstrated that immediate loading can be successfully used in implant dentistry. Many factors are thought to be of importance in obtaining mineralized tissues at the interface. This study describes the implant interface of an immediately loaded implant with a conical implant-abutment connection that had been inserted in the posterior mandible for 6 months. Histology showed that mineralized tissue was present at about 74% +/- 6% of the implant interface. No gaps, fibrous tissue, or inflammatory infiltrate were present at the interface. The bone adjacent to the implant was mainly lamellar (90% +/- 4.5%). Tetracycline was used to label trabecular bone, and labeled bone was found in direct contact with the implant surface. The extensive labelling by tetracycline demonstrated a large quantity of newly formed bone at the implant interface. The distance between the 2 lines marked by tetracycline was 85 +/- 5 mm. The results of this study show that immediately loaded dental implants can form mineralized tissues at the bone-implant interface.