| Objective:.;The primary objective of this clinical prospective study was to compare immediate loading vs. early loading (6 weeks) using the NobelActive implants on the esthetic soft tissue outcome, bone level, and success rate.;Materials and Methods:.;67 patients were screened for the study, 49 patients met the anatomical surgical criteria and gave consent to participate in the study. Patients were randomly assigned in two groups; group A received immediate loading, group B received early loading 4 to 6 weeks after implant placement. Patients were followed up at 3, 6, 12 and 24 months. Evaluation included radiographic bone height changes around the implant, papillary esthetic outcome and implant survival rate.;Results:.;Implant survival rate was 96.1% for the immediate loading group and 95.7% for the early loading group. 3 patients had complications in the early loading group. One implant failed in each group. The mean papilla index was 1.71+/- 0.68 and 1.52+/- 0.89 at the time of provisional delivery for (Group A) and (Group B), respectively. At six months, one year, two years the papilla index for group A & B were (2.18+/- 0.69 and 2.00+/- 0.65), (2.16+/- 0.82 and 2.11+/- 0.85), (2.21+/- 0.56 and 2.08+/- 0.73) respectively. The papilla index improved gradually from the time of provisional crown placement to the end of the study, no statistically significant difference between the two groups at any time point.;The mean bone level was (-0.265+/- 0.51)mm and (-0.058+/- 0.73)mm (coronal to the implants shoulder) at baseline for (Group A) and (Group B), respectively. At six months, one year, two years the bone level was (0.28+/- 0.54mm and 0.82+/- 0.89mm), (0.13+/- 0.5mm and 1.05+/- 0.9mm), (0.62+/- 0.71mm and 1.4+/- 0.81mm) respectively. No statistically significant difference between the two groups was found at any time point except at 1 year.;Conclusions:.;Within the limitations of this study, at two years, there were no differences between the immediate loading and early loading groups in terms of esthetic outcomes, bone level or implant failure. |
