Does Osteoporosis Affect the Survival Rate of Dental Implants?

Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine if a diagnosis of osteoporosis affected the survival rate of osseointegrated dental implants. Other variables that were studied were body mass index, age, medication usage, and bone quality on the effect of dental implant survival. Methods: A total of 2867 implants in 677 female patients fifty years of age or older at the time of implant placement were evaluated. Bone Mineral Density (BMD) scores were available for 646 implants (192 patients) within three years of implant placement. In this group, 37 implant failures were noted. Univariate analyses were performed to evaluate the following independent variables' effect on implant survival: BMD T-score, body mass index, age, osteoporosis status, medication usage, and bone quality at implant site. Results: The 5 year implant survival rate was 93.8% in our group of patients with BMD scores. In this group of 192 patients, there were 94 (49%) with a normal diagnosis, 57 (29.7%) with a diagnosis of osteopenia, and 41 (21.4%) with a diagnosis of osteoporosis. None of the factors studied had a statistically significant effect on implant survival rates, although use of Premarin approached statistical significance. Conclusions: Placing osseointegrated dental implants in patients with osteoporosis is a safe and predictable treatment option for missing teeth. A diagnosis of osteoporosis or osteopenia is not a contraindication to dental implant therapy.