Iñaki Cercadillo presents preliminary results of immediate loading study

Iñaki Cercadillo, director of the Ahoa Dental Clinic, is a specialist in immediate load oral surgery and implantology, with more than ten years of experience in the sector. In addition to his professional practice, he is an associate professor at the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Unit of the Faculty of Dentistry of the University of Barcelona. He is a member of the Spanish Society of Oral Surgery (SECIB) and of the biomedical research group IDIBELL of the Hospital de Bellvitge.

Is Spain a reference in the field of oral surgery?

From the academic and research point of view, Spanish universities have a reference position, with a high scientific production. We could also say that the quality of care received by the population is at a high level within the European Union. On the other hand, Spain is the only country, together with Luxembourg, that does not officially recognize this dental specialty. The creation of the specialty currently enjoys consensus within academic institutions, scientific societies and professional associations. The Administration has yet to take the definitive step.

You have just presented in Salamanca the preliminary conclusions of a study on immediate loading, together with the Oral Surgery team of the University of Barcelona. What is the progress of the study?

This is a study that evaluates the long-term results of a specific implant treatment, the complete rehabilitation of an arch, that is, the entire upper or lower part of the mouth at the same time. This study will serve to demonstrate the great efficacy of immediate loading and the high satisfaction of patients who have chosen this treatment. In Salamanca we present the immediate results of the treatment, within 3 months after the surgery and the placement of the fixed provisional teeth. The results have been spectacular: 99.02% success rate of the implants. Only 4 implants failed out of a sample of 435 implants placed.

On the other hand, will the application of the new guided surgery protocol that you are developing guarantee greater safety in the intervention and ensure better results?

Guided surgery is a resource for implant treatment that implies having the maximum level of information for diagnosis and treatment planning, which means a more precise and detailed execution of the treatment. It will not always bring advantages to the patient, but undoubtedly the fact of reducing the surgical trauma makes the patient feel recovered within 24 hours, while with conventional procedures it takes between 5 and 7 days.

One of the main problems we may encounter when a dental piece is implanted is its rejection. Will the application of new procedures allow us to speak of a lower rate of rejection?

Yes, the new procedures will allow us to obtain more predictable results with simpler treatments. For example, a very frequent situation is the lack of bone for implant placement, due to bone atrophy. In this case, the 3D study, which is what virtual surgery allows us to do, will allow us to place the implants in the exact position according to the bone volume available at that moment. Despite having extraordinary results in the last 10 years, we still want to improve the experience of our patients, reducing discomfort and treatment times.

The time factor is always important for patients, will the new techniques reduce treatment times?

Yes, that’s right. Implant treatment has always been characterized by needing between 3 and 6 months for the patient to enjoy the result, the fixed teeth. What immediate loading and virtual surgery allows us is to reduce the waiting time, that is, the same day that we place the implants we can place the fixed teeth. These will be provisional, but the patient will be able to eat and smile with absolute comfort.

Any recommendations for patients who have to undergo this type of intervention?

That they look for a good and trustworthy professional who will give them all the necessary information, treatment options, pros and cons. In short, the confidence of knowing that they are in good hands, a professional who uses top quality materials and has proven experience. This is something that often escapes us, especially when the economic factor, so important nowadays, makes us make the wrong decisions. For example, today the possibility of falling into this type of chains where they make aggressive advertising campaigns in prices and have young inexperienced professionals practicing complex and advanced treatments, can be a problem. In fact, a high percentage of our treatments are oriented to solve problems derived from other centers, and we see this more and more. This is important to know, because sometimes we forget that health is a precious asset that we must protect.