The association between alcohol consumption and dental implant failure: a systematic review and meta-analysis

The impact of alcohol consumption on dental implant failure remains a topic of debate. While some studies suggest a potential link, the overall association remains unclear.

This study followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. A comprehensive search was conducted in PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Library, and Web of Science for studies published up to December 12, 2024. Observational studies assessing the association between alcohol consumption and dental implant failure were included.

Nine observational studies, including 54 to 747 participants each, met the inclusion criteria. The pooled analysis showed no significant association between overall alcohol consumption and dental implant failure (OR = 0.87, 95% CI: 0.50-1.51, p = 0.61). However, subgroup analyses revealed that heavy alcohol consumption was associated with a significantly increased likelihood of implant failure (OR = 2.78, 95% CI: 2.08-3.91, p < 0.001), while low to moderate consumption suggested a potential reduced risk (OR = 0.40, 95% CI: 0.21-0.76, p = 0.01). Sensitivity analyses confirmed the robustness of these findings, and no significant publication bias was detected.

While overall alcohol consumption does not appear to impact dental implant failure rates, heavy alcohol intake is significantly associated with an increased risk. Conversely, low to moderate alcohol consumption may be associated with a reduced risk; however, this finding should be interpreted with caution due to potential confounding factors and the observational nature of the included studies.