Objectives: This systematic review aims to evaluate the outcomes of dental implant therapy in osteoporotic patients by comparing implant survival rates, peri-implantitis prevalence, and bone-to-implant contact (BIC) between osteoporotic and non-osteoporotic individuals. The review addresses whether osteoporosis should be considered a contraindication for dental implants and explores how systemic bone loss affects osseointegration.
Materials and Methods: A comprehensive search of electronic databases, including PubMed and Google Scholar, was conducted using specific MeSH terms related to osteoporosis and dental implants. The inclusion criteria were clinical trials and histomorphometric studies involving adult patients, written in English. Exclusion criteria included animal studies, in vitro studies, and articles without follow-up data. A total of six studies (five clinical and one histomorphometric) were included after screening 943 articles.
Results: The included studies involved 1,122 participants, with 3,553 implants placed. Osteoporotic patients had an implant failure rate of 10.89%, compared to 11.43% in healthy controls, and 8.29% in osteopenic individuals. Peri-implantitis prevalence was similar across groups (23.9% in osteoporotic patients vs. 23.5% in healthy controls). Histomorphometric analysis revealed comparable BIC percentages between osteoporotic and non-osteoporotic patients. Despite these similarities, the studies highlighted greater marginal bone loss in osteoporotic patients. Study heterogeneity and retrospective designs limited the ability to draw definitive conclusions.
Conclusion: Osteoporosis does not appear to significantly reduce implant survival rates, suggesting that dental implants remain a viable treatment option for osteoporotic patients. However, increased peri-implant bone loss warrants careful patient evaluation and close monitoring. Future prospective studies with standardized protocols are needed to provide more robust evidence and guide clinical decision-making
Keywords: Osteoporosis, Dental implants, Implant survival, Peri-implantitis, Osseointegration
