Implant therapy in aggressive periodontitis patients: a systematic review and clinical implications

Implant therapy in partially edentulous patients has proven to be a predictable procedure with a high implant survival rate. The success rate in patients with a history of aggressive periodontitis, however, is still unclear. A Medline/PubMed search was conducted to identify and summarize articles published in English and reported on the survival of implants in aggressive, rapidly progressive, or juvenile periodontitis patients. Our search revealed only 9 articles, 4 of which were case reports. Although available evidence is weak, it suggests good short-term survival of implants placed in periodontally well-maintained aggressive periodontitis patients. Bone loss around implants in aggressive periodontitis patients, however, appears to occur more frequently than it does in chronic periodontitis patients or periodontally healthy individuals. A summary and critical analysis of the aforementioned articles is presented.