The trial is designed as a consecutive enrollment prospective one-center study. A minimum of 30 patients will be included in the study. At implant installation, the implant will be randomized to one of the groups (Control: conventional loading, 8 weeks; Test: early loading, 4 weeks). Samples of peri-implant crevicular fluid (PICF) and intrasulcular plaque will be collected at -14, 0 (Baseline: prosthesis delivery), 7 days and 1, 3, 6, 12 months. Prosthesis will be fabricated and delivered as usual, i.e., approximately two weeks after the impressions are taken.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patient >18 and ≤75 years old
• One missing tooth in the premolar or molar area with both opposing and adjacent teeth (mesial and distal).

Exclusion Criteria:

• One-stage bone augmentation
• Heavy smokers (>10 cigarettes/day)
• Uncontrolled type 1 or 2 diabetes (HgA1c>8)
• Known auto-immune or inflammatory disease
• Severe hematologic disorders, such as hemophilia or leukemia
• Local or systemic infection that may compromise normal healing (e.g., extensive periapical pathology)
• Liver or kidney dysfunction/failure
• Currently receiving cancer treatment or within 18 months from completion of radio- or chemotherapy
• Long-term history of oral bisphosphonates use (i.e., 10 years or more)
• History of intravenous bisphosphonates
• Long-term (>3 months) history of antibiotics or drugs known to alter the inflammation and/or immunological system
• Severe osseous diseases (e.g., Paget disease of bone)
• Pregnant women or nursing mothers
• Not able or not willing to follow instructions related to the study procedures