Update on immediate implant loading: a review of the literature.

The treatment of totally or partially edentulous patients with osseointegrated implants is an increasing part of daily dental practice. The greater aesthetic and functional demands made by these patients have created a constant pressure to reduce the waiting time before implants are loaded. In some cases, however, a shortening of the waiting period may compromise the osseointegration of the fixtures. The present review aims to inform the clinician about the continuing controversy on this issue. Data from the reviewed studies allow comparisons to be made between the different success rates obtained after immediate implant loading, offering a more objective basis for our advice to patients on this type of treatment. According to our review, the type and quality of the bone and the surface of the implant are the factors that determine the selection of patients who can undergo the premature loading of implants.