Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of immediate non-functional loading by analyzing histomorphology around the implant tissues in dogs. Five eight- to nine-month-old full-grown dogs weighing around 12 kg were used in the study. Group I (control group) comprised those in which delayed loading was applied to the right side of the mandible, and Group II (experimental group) consisted of dogs in which immediate loading was performed on the left side of the mandible. Resorbable blast media (RBM)-treated double-threaded US III implants measuring 3.5 mm in diameter and 11 mm long were used in the study. Each animal received four implants in each group, for a total of 40 implants. Cemented type abutments were used after implantation. An 8-week period was allowed for bone healing and an abutment was placed after exposing the periosteum for loading. An implant sample was obtained from bone blocks taken when the dogs were killed at 16 weeks after loading. A Mann-Whitney U-test was performed to evaluate statistical significance. Student’s t-test was used for the histological evaluation. The bone formation ratio in Groups 1 and 2 was 88.23 and 86.41%, respectively. No significant difference in new bone formation was observed in the two groups. As no significant difference was seen in new bone formation between the delayed and immediate loading groups, early loading might be possible after implant placement.