Influence of Bisphosphonates on Alveolar Bone Loss around Osseointegrated Implants

Bisphosphonates are extensively used drugs for the management of osteoporosis and other disorders affecting the bones. The stability and lifetime of osseointegrated dental implants may be influenced by their impact on bone metabolism.

A randomized controlled trial was undertaken with a sample size of 60 individuals who were implanted with orally integrated dental implants. Study participants were split into two groups: Group A (n = 30) had bisphosphonate therapy for a minimum of 1 year before implant placement, while Group B (n = 30) did not have any bisphosphonate treatment. Cone beam computed tomography images were performed to quantify the alveolar bone levels surrounding the implants at three time points: baseline, 6 months, and 12 months after implantation.

At the 6-month mark, Group A had an average bone loss of 0.8 mm with a standard deviation of 0.3 mm, but Group B had a bone loss of 1.2 mm with a standard deviation of 0.4 mm. At the 12-month mark, Group A experienced an average bone loss of 1.1 mm ± 0.5 mm, while Group B had a loss of 1.6 mm ± 0.6 mm. The substantial differences in bone loss between the groups were observed at both the 6-month (P < 0.05) and 12-month (P < 0.01) time points.

Bisphosphonate treatment seems to decrease the atrophy of the alveolar bone surrounding osseointegrated dental implants, indicating a possible advantage in improving the durability and lifespan of the implants.