Reis R, et al. - In this investigation involving 24 edentulous patients (mean age of 67±9 years), researchers compared immediate and early loading protocols for mandibular overdentures with two-splinted narrow-diameter implants in thin, non-augmented residual ridge situations. For this randomized clinical trial, each patient received two implants in the interforaminal region. Study participants were randomized either to the immediate (48 h post-surgery) or the early (2 weeks after surgery) loading group if primary stability after implant placement was achieved. For both groups, the mean implant survival and success rates were 100%. Investigators found that the one-year follow-up was successful in both loading protocols for mandibular overdentures supported by two splinted narrow-diameter implants. They observed that patient satisfaction was high, but there was a difference in the ability to chew between groups at six months.