Risk of Dental Implant Failure with Obesity

Area of Science:

• Dental Implantology
• Public Health
• Clinical Research

Background:

• Dental implants are a common restorative procedure.
• Obesity is a growing public health concern with potential systemic health implications.
• Understanding factors influencing dental implant success is crucial for patient outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between obesity, defined by body mass index (BMI), and the risk of dental implant failure.
• To analyze the impact of obesity alongside other covariates such as sex and smoking on implant survival rates.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective cohort study analyzed 16,921 dental implants placed in 6,241 patients between 2000 and 2021.
• Obesity was categorized using BMI (≤24.9, 25.0-29.9, ≥30).
• Kaplan-Meier models and log rank tests assessed associations between BMI, sex, smoking, and implant failure.

Main Results:

• Obesity (BMI ≥30) was not significantly associated with an increased risk of dental implant failure (HR: 0.97; 95% CI 0.82-1.15; P = 0.44).
• Current smokers showed a significantly higher risk of implant failure (P < .0001).
• Male sex was also significantly associated with increased implant failure risk (P = .015).

Conclusions:

• Obesity does not appear to be a risk factor for dental implant failure in the studied population.
• Smoking and male sex are significant risk factors for dental implant failure.
• Further research may explore the complex interplay of systemic health and implant outcomes.