Immediate Load Implants
Chewing function from day one: digital protocol with Straumann implants in Vitacura.
Immediate load on implants is the protocol where the patient receives a functional prosthesis on the implants within 48 hours of surgery. Unlike the conventional protocol that requires 3-4 months of osseointegration before installing the definitive crown, immediate load restores chewing function, speech, and aesthetics on the same day as surgery.
The protocol primarily applies to full-arch rehabilitations or multiple splinted implants, where load distribution between several anchors makes loading viable without compromising osseointegration. In single implants, functional immediate load is more restrictive: we use immediate provisionals without strong occlusal contacts.
At Atria Sampaio we apply immediate load when the necessary biomechanical conditions are met: adequate primary stability (measured by insertion torque and, when applicable, ISQ), sufficient bone quality, favorable occlusion, and prosthetic design that distributes loads in a balanced way. We work with Straumann (Switzerland) implants, whose body of clinical evidence in immediate-load protocols is the largest in the industry.
The workflow combines iTero 5D intraoral scanning, 3D planning with CBCT, guided surgery with in-clinic-printed guides, and CAD/CAM design with Exocad of the provisional prosthesis. The Primemill mill or Phrozen Sonic Mini 8KS and Formlabs 4B 3D printers fabricate the provisional the same day. The patient leaves surgery with functional teeth, without months of an edentulous gap or a removable prosthesis.
Rigorous indication is what makes this protocol safe. Not all cases qualify, and forcing immediate load when not indicated compromises osseointegration. The decision is clinical based on objective criteria: primary stability, force distribution, bone quality, expectations, and patient discipline with the soft post-surgical diet during the first weeks.
Benefits
- ✓Chewing function from the day of surgery
- ✓Immediate aesthetics: leave with teeth, not an edentulous gap
- ✓Straumann implants with SLActive for accelerated osseointegration
- ✓Integrated digital protocol: CBCT + scan + guide + CAD/CAM provisional
- ✓Significant reduction in total treatment time
- ✓Rigorous indication: only in cases with adequate biomechanical conditions
- ✓Force distribution planned with guided-surgery software
- ✓NYU College of Dentistry academic standard
Our Approach
The process starts with full clinical evaluation, cone-beam CT for bone volume and density analysis, iTero 5D intraoral scan, and 3D planning of position, number, and angulation of implants. We digitally design the provisional prosthesis with Exocad before surgery. We fabricate the surgical guide in clinic with Phrozen Sonic Mini 8KS or Formlabs 4B. On surgery day we install the Straumann implants with the guide and measure insertion torque to verify primary stability. If the case qualifies, we install the milled or printed provisional prosthesis that day. The patient leaves with chewing function. Postoperative: soft diet for 2-4 weeks, follow-up at 7-10 days, radiographic monitoring of osseointegration. The definitive prosthesis is installed at 3-4 months once integration is confirmed by tomography and/or ISQ.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is immediate load on implants?
It's the protocol where the patient receives a functional prosthesis on the implants within 48 hours of surgery, instead of waiting 3-4 months for osseointegration as in the conventional protocol. It restores function, aesthetics, and speech the same day.
Can any implant receive immediate load?
No. Sufficient primary stability, adequate bone quality, favorable occlusion, and prosthetic design that distributes forces are required. It's more viable in full-arch rehabilitations with multiple splinted implants (like All-on-4) than in single implants. Indication is made on objective clinical criteria.
Is it safe? What are the success rates?
When properly indicated and protocol-respecting, success rates in literature are comparable to conventional protocols, exceeding 95% long-term. The key is rigorous indication: forcing immediate load without adequate biomechanical conditions compromises osseointegration.
Are there restrictions after surgery?
Yes. Soft diet for the first 2-4 weeks, avoiding hard or fibrous foods that generate intense chewing loads. Patient discipline with the post-surgical diet is one of the factors that defines protocol success. We provide detailed instructions and a specific list of allowed foods.
Why use Straumann for immediate load?
For the SLActive surface and the prosthetic connection quality. SLActive accelerates osseointegration (relevant when the implant receives early load) and has the largest body of clinical literature documented in immediate-load protocols. Evidence-based decision, not marketing.