Immediate Non-Occlusal Loading

In implant dentistry, there are two types of immediate loading: immediate occlusal loading and immediate non-occlusal loading. Immediate occlusal loading occurs when a dental implant is placed with adequate initial stability and the corresponding dental restoration features full centric occlusion in max intercuspation. This type of loading must be done within 48 hours of the placement of the dental implant hardware. The process of immediate occlusal loading is determined by the design of the dental prosthetic to eliminate the potential for micromotion at the implant site. Immediate non-occlusal loading occurs when a dental implant is placed with adequate initial stability but isn’t in functional occlusion. This type of loading is generally exclusively used for aesthetic-only dental implants or for short-term applications. Often, immediate non-occlusal loading is done to provide patients with a temporary tooth replacement while the dental implant hardware heals, especially when patients prefer not to use a removable prosthesis.