It has been documented that the long-term clinical outcome of the Brånemark system is very favourable. However, failures do occur before and after loading. This study examined the differences in marginal bone loss between standard and self-tapping fixtures and attempted to explain excessive marginal bone loss or loss of osseointegration during the first 3 years of loading. Marginal bone loss (scored on long cone radiographs) and fixture failure rate were compared for different fixture designs. For standard fixtures, in comparison with self-tapping fixtures, the failure rate was clearly higher before as well as after loading. However, for successful fixtures no difference in marginal bone loss was observed. For the conical fixtures an increased marginal bone loss around the smooth part was observed. The effect of fixture overload, marginal bone height and loss of osseointegration was examined in 69 patients with 1 and 15 patients with 2 fixed full prostheses, and in 9 patients with an overdenture in the upper jaw. Excessive marginal bone loss (more than 1 mm) after the first year of loading and/or fixture loss correlated well with the presence of overload due to a lack of anterior contact, the presence of parafunctional activity and osseointegrated full fixed prostheses in both jaws.