Implantology in a Single Visit
Featured Products Promotional FeaturesPosted by: Dental Design 29th April 2024
Innovations in same-day implantology, allowing truly astonishing, potentially instant aesthetic results for those experiencing tooth loss, are capturing the imagination of practitioners and patients alike. Twenty years ago, a patient seeking an implant might have waited nearly a year for a finished smile. Now, immediate placement is much more commonplace, with many surgeons actively preferring this as a less invasive, one-surgery procedure. Immediate loading is a popular option for patients too,[i] making restoration faster.
The possibilities are indeed exciting. However, while patient awareness of and interest in dental implants has increased vastly, they may lack awareness of contraindications around different treatment solutions, which can lead to unrealistic expectations.[ii]
The benefits of immediate placement are now well-established. Immediate loading is also growing in popularity, though it requires careful consideration to optimise outcomes.
The Benefits of Immediate Placement
Accelerating the journey towards better dental function and appearance offers obvious benefits.
The trend is clear; patients want better-looking teeth. According to current statistics, the global market for cosmetic dentistry – including dental implants – is predicted to grow at an annual rate of 5%, increasing its value to an estimated £21 billion by 2026.[iii]
The drive to provide quicker results, however, is more than cosmetic. The detrimental effects of edentulism on physical and mental health are well-documented. Tooth loss has been linked to increased risk of chronic kidney disease, coronary heart disease and certain cancers, among many other conditions.[iv] In addition to serious health concerns, edentulous patients’ quality of life is impacted by social isolation, and a negative self-image, leading to poorer psychological wellbeing. iv [v]
For many patients, anticipating the pain of multiple surgical interventions, as well as longer healing periods, may increase anxiety. This anxiety contributes to patients delaying treatment acceptance, exacerbating problems and adversely affecting outcomes.[vi]
The clinical benefits of immediate implant placement are outlined in a number of studies, shown to deliver comparable success rates compared to placement in healed extraction sites. The technique can preserve bone height and width, improving longer term aesthetics. An impressive 99% survival rate has been recorded for immediately placed single molar implants. [vii]
Although the process of immediate implant placement is more technically demanding than the traditional, delayed approach, it requires less intervention which can favour the healing of soft and hard tissue.vii Minimally invasive procedures are always preferred to reduce patients’ anxiety and discomfort.[viii]
Immediate Loading – Laying the Groundwork
Immediate loading has become a more predictable and successful procedure than ever before,[ix] and implant survival rates are very good overall.[x] Primary stability is vital to implant success rates. Osseointegration cannot be rushed, and no matter the skill of the oral surgeon, the process will be compromised by any repeated pressure and movement.
To mitigate against the pressure and movement of mastication, patients are warned of the risks of chewing certain foods. Establishing a culture of clear communication and trust helps mitigate against patient behaviour that might compromise implant success. Patients with an immediately loaded implant will generally exercise a great deal more caution with their new prosthetic than they would if they had experienced a longer recovery time.
The importance of follow up care cannot be underestimated for detection of early problems that may lead to failure.x Having the beautiful smile your patient dreamed of in a day may well feel like the welcome end to a difficult journey for them. Honesty and clarity is vital to ensure that patients commit to the necessary ongoing care required for ultimate success.
Given the importance of primary stability in implant success overall, immediate loading had not previously been recommended for patients with poor bone quality. However, advances in implantology are widening the field and contraindications are evolving. The future looks exciting as more studies begin to reveal mitigations, like under-drilling the osteotomy and a rough implant texture to enable sufficient torque and good primary retention in suboptimal bone.[xi]
Engineered to meet patients’ expectations for shorter treatment times and better aesthetics, Helix® Grand Morse® offers a unique implant design, with specific features for all bone types, facilitating immediate protocols. Its Acqua® hydrophilic surface is developed to present a smaller contact angle, and provide greater accessibility of organic fluids to the surface, improving outcomes.[xii] As part of the Grand Morse® portfolio, offering one prosthetic platform regardless of the implant diameter, one screwdriver, one implant driver and one surgical kit, the Helix® offers efficiency and simplicity.
No clinician wants to disappoint a patient hoping to achieve dramatic aesthetic results in a single day, but they must maintain integrity in assessing all the anticipated risks of an immediate implant approach to choose the most appropriate for each clinical situation.[xiii] What may have been unimaginable twenty years ago is now a reality for many patients, who can have their dream of a brighter smile fulfilled in one single visit.
For more information on the Neodent® Grand Morse® Implant System, visit
[i] Shrivastava R., Luxenberg R., Sutton E., Emami E., Patients experience and satisfaction with immediate loading of implant-supported overdentures – A qualitative study, Journal of Dentistry, 2023, Volume 137. Available at: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0300571223002300. Accessed January 2024
[ii] Al-Haj Husain A, De Cicco O, Stadlinger B, Bosshard FA, Schmidt V, Özcan M, Valdec S. (2023) A Survey on Attitude, Awareness, and Knowledge of Patients Regarding the Use of Dental Implants at a Swiss University Clinic. Dent J (Basel). 2023 Jul 5;11(7):165. doi: 10.3390/dj11070165. PMID: 37504231; PMCID: PMC10378414.
[iii] The Worldwide Cosmetic Dentistry Industry is Expected to Reach $27+ Billion by 2026 Global Newswire Web site. Available at: https://www.globenewswire.com/en/news-release/2022/03/15/2403418/28124/en/The-Worldwide-Cosmetic-Dentistry-Industry-is-Expected-to-Reach-27-Billion-by-2026.html Published March 15, 2022. Accessed January 2024.
[iv] Emami E, de Souza RF, Kabawat M, Feine JS. The impact of edentulism on oral and general health. Int J Dent. 2013;2013:498305. doi: 10.1155/2013/498305. Epub 2013 May 8. PMID: 23737789; PMCID: PMC3664508.
[v] Tyrovolas, S., Koyanagi, A., Panagiotakos, D. et al. Population prevalence of edentulism and its association with depression and self-rated health. Sci Rep 6, 37083 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1038/srep37083
[vi] Steinvik LM, Svartdal F, Johnsen JK. Delay of Dental Care: An Exploratory Study of Procrastination, Dental Attendance, and Self-Reported Oral Health. Dent J (Basel). 2023 Feb 20;11(2):56. doi: 10.3390/dj11020056. PMID: 36826201; PMCID: PMC9955773.
[vii] Atieh, M.A., Payne, A.G., Duncan, W.J., de Silva, R.K. and Cullinan, M.P., 2010. Immediate placement or immediate restoration/loading of single implants for molar tooth replacement: a systematic review and meta-analysis. The International journal of oral & maxillofacial implants, 25(2), p.401.
[viii] AlQutub AW. Pain Experience after Dental Implant Placement Compared to Tooth Extraction. Int J Dent. 2021 Aug 31;2021:4134932. doi: 10.1155/2021/4134932. PMID: 34512757; PMCID: PMC8424234.
[ix] Singh M, Kumar L, Anwar M, Chand P. Immediate dental implant placement with immediate loading following extraction of natural teeth. Natl J Maxillofac Surg. 2015 Jul-Dec;6(2):252-5. doi: 10.4103/0975-5950.183864. PMID: 27390509; PMCID: PMC4922245.
[xi] Thiebot N., Hamdani A., Blanchet F., Dame M., Tawfik S, Mbapou E, Kaddouh A.A., Alantar A. Implant failure rate and the prevalence of associated risk factors: a 6-year retrospective observational survey. Oral Med Oral Surg 28 (2) 19 (2022)DOI: 10.1051/mbcb/2021045
[xii] Novellino MM, Sesma N, Zanardi PR, Laganá DC. Resonance frequency analysis of dental implants placed at the posterior maxilla varying the surface treatment only: A randomized clinical trial. Clin Implant Dent Relat Res. 2017 Oct;19(5):770-775. doi: 10.1111/cid.12510. Epub 2017 Jun 20. PMID: 28631408; PMCID: PMC5655931.
[xiii] Garcia‐Sanchez, R., Dopico, J., Kalemaj, Z., Buti, J., Pardo Zamora, G. and Mardas, N., 2022. Comparison of clinical outcomes of immediate versus delayed placement of dental implants: A systematic review and meta‐analysis. Clinical Oral Implants Research, 33(3), pp.231-277.
