Is Body Mass Index an Independent Risk Factor for Peri-Implantitis?

Peri-implantitis is a biologic complication of implant therapy that compromises long-term function and esthetics. With obesity rising globally, determining whether body mass index (BMI) independently contributes to peri-implantitis is critical for identifying at-risk patients and improving implant success.

The purpose of this study was to measure the association between BMI and peri-implantitis.

This was a retrospective cohort study of implants placed at the Philadelphia Veterans Authority Medical Center between 2006 and 2019. Patients were included in the study if they had complete medical and dental records and a BMI recorded within 3 months of placement. Patients with systemic confounders such as bisphosphonate therapy, head and neck radiation, or incomplete data were excluded.

The primary predictor variable was BMI, which was utilized as a binary variable as either nonobese (<30 kg/m2) or obese (≥30 kg/m2).

The outcome was time from implant placement to peri-implantitis, defined as radiographic evidence of crestal bone loss with clinical bleeding on probing, with or without suppuration.

Covariates included age, sex, diabetes status, smoking history, alcohol use, implant location, and prior bone grafting.

Kaplan-Meier curves were constructed for each predictor, and time-to-event curves were compared with log-rank tests to identify significant predictors of peri-implantitis. Multivariate analysis of significant predictors was performed using Cox proportional hazard models to estimate adjusted hazard ratios. Statistical significance was set at P < .05.

Our database included 325 subjects who received 1,138 implants. Utilizing a subject-level analysis, 325 implants (28.6%) composed the final study sample after randomly selecting 1 implant per subject. The mean subject age was 59.3 ± 10.6 years, and 310 (95.4%) of subjects were male. Peri-implantitis occurred in 80 implants (24.6%). The 5-year peri-implantitis rates were 22.7 and 34.0% for subjects with BMI<30 kg/m² and BMI≥30 kg/m², respectively (P = .04). In the multivariable Cox proportional hazards model, BMI ≥ 30 kg/m² remained independently associated with an increased risk of peri-implantitis (hazard ratio, 1.56; 95% CI, 1.00 to 2.44; P = .04).

Elevated BMI is an independent predictor of peri-implantitis. These findings emphasize the need for integrating BMI and metabolic screening into implant planning and maintenance. Recognition of obesity-related inflammatory mechanisms may improve preventive strategies and long-term implant outcomes in clinical practice.