Immediate Loading
An implant protocol in which a prosthetic restoration is placed in occlusal contact within 48 hours of implant fixture insertion.
Full Definition
Immediate loading (IL) is a clinical approach that contrasts with the conventional two-stage protocol, where an unloaded healing period of several months is observed before prosthetic loading. The ITI Consensus Statements and the European Association for Osseointegration define immediate loading as restoration placed in occlusal function within 48 hours of surgery. Editors must distinguish it from 'immediate restoration,' where a temporary crown is placed within 48 hours but kept out of occlusion. Hyphenation as a compound modifier is required ('immediate-loading protocol').
Usage
Usage note: Hyphenate as a compound modifier. Distinguish from 'immediate restoration' (non-occluding) and 'early loading' (48 hours to 3 months post-surgery).
In Context
- "Immediate loading was employed in the mandibular full-arch case, reducing overall treatment time significantly." — Implantology treatment report
- "The author must clarify whether the restoration was in occlusal contact; if not, the correct term is 'immediate restoration,' not 'immediate loading.'" — Editorial peer-review note