Dental Implant Failure Quick Poll Results from National Dental PBRN


Dental implant failures are rare events. The contributory role of the patient's medical conditions and medication(s) in dental implant failure is not fully understood. Drs. Subramanian and Quek from Rutgers were interested in investigating whether anti-resorptive therapies (e.g., bisphosphonates) contribute to dental implant failures. The survey questions were geared towards identifying early and delayed implant failures in conjunction with systemic conditions such as diabetes, diseases such as osteoporosis and cancer that necessitated anti-resorptive therapy. Implant failure was defined as 'implant mobility in rotational, axial or horizontal direction' in the presence/ absence of pain or discomfort and radiographic evidence of peri-implant bone loss.
Among 277 responders, 167 (nearly 60%) reported implant failures.Nearly a third of all implant failures were observed in the setting of systemic conditions in the patients, warranting a closer look at these entities. Anti-resorptive therapy has been reported by nearly 10-15% of the responders as associated with early and delayed dental implant failures. It was notable that over 120 of the nearly 170 responders who reported implant failures expressed their willingness to be contacted for additional information, important in order to build on this preliminary data. As the longevity of implants in an Implant Registry Study is explored further in the network, the results of this quick poll will help inform that workgroup.
Click here to view the table with the summary of results.

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