Influence of bisphosphonates on alveolar bone loss around osseointegrated implants

The relationship between bisphosphonates (BP) and dental implant failure has not been fully elucidated. The purpose of this retrospective radiographic study was to examine whether patients who take BP are at greater risk of implant failure than patients not using those agents. Treatment records of 362 consecutively treated patients receiving endosseous dental implants were reviewed. The patient population consisted of 227 women and 135 men with a mean age of 56 years (range: 17-87 years), treated in the University at Buffalo Postgraduate Clinic from 1997-2008. Demographic information collected included age, gender, smoking status, as well as systemic conditions and medication use. Implant characteristics reviewed included system, date of placement, date of follow-up radiographs, surgical complications, number of exposed threads, and implant failure. The relationship between BP and implant failure was analyzed using generalized estimating equation (GEE) analysis. Twenty-six patients using BP received a total of 51 dental implants. Three implants failed, yielding success rates of 94.11% and 88.46% for the implant-based and subject-based analyses, respectively. Using the GEE statistical method we found a statistically significant (P  =  .001; OR  =  3.25) association between the use of BP and implant thread exposure. None of the other variables studied were statistically associated with implant failure or thread exposure. In conclusion, patients taking BP may be at higher risk for implant thread exposure.