Consensus conference on immediate loading: the single tooth and partial edentulous areas

PURPOSE: A consensus conference was held to determine what the parameters should be for the immediate functional loading of the single-tooth implant restoration and short-span fixed implant-supported bridgework. MATERIALS: Forty-one clinicians and researchers presented cases and situations relating to the topic. A panel then distilled questions that were presented to the audience (430) at large. Answers were gleaned to formulate a consensus. RESULTS: Ten distinct answers evolved that constituted the essence of guidelines for clinicians to be aware of when undertaking immediate loading. These guidelines are contained within the body of the text. CONCLUSIONS: Extreme caution and adherence to a universal generic protocol are suggested for clinicians who are involved with single-tooth and short-span multiple-teeth implant replacements as related to immediate loading as defined within this text.