IMMEDIATE LOADING OF 3 MM-DIAMETER IMPLANTS AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO HORIZONTAL BONE AUGMENTATION FOR PLACING NORMAL DIAMETER IMPLANTS: FOUR-MONTH POST- LOADING RESULTS FROM A MULTICENTRE RANDOMISED CONTROLLED TRIAL

Abstract

PURPOSE. To evaluate the effectiveness of immediately loaded 3 mm-diameter implants in alternative to horizontal bone augmentation procedures to allow placement of implants with a conventional diameter of 4 mm. MATERIALS AND METHODS. Forty-five partially edentulous patients with a bone width of between 4 and 5 mm 3 mm below the crest in areas requiring one to three adjacent implants were randomised, according to a parallel-group design, to receive one to three 3.0 mm-wide implants to be loaded immediately (23 patients) or horizontal crest augmentation with a granular bone substitute covered with a bone lamina for placing, after 6 months of healing, one to three implants at least 4 mm wide (22 patients) at