Peri-implantitis and late implant failures in postmenopausal women: a cross-sectional study

Aim: Systemic bone loss is a major cause of fractures in postmenopausal women and may also affect the jawbone; however, its consequences on the success of dental implants remain poorly understood. Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, the relation between self-reported osteoporosis and the success rate of dental implants in an adult female population was evaluated. The primary outcome parameters were the occurrence of peri-implantitis and late implant failures. Women with unknown bone status were excluded from the study. The potential confounders age, recipient site, smoking, periodontal disease and time of loading were recorded. Results: Data from 203 women with a mean age of 63 +/- 9 years and 967 dental implants were investigated. The patients were classified according to their medical history into one of three groups: osteoporosis (47 women), osteopenia (16 women) and healthy controls (140 women). Patients with unknown bone status (n=26) were excluded. The multi-level statistical analysis showed no association between peri-implantitis [odds ratio (OR) 2.1; p=0.6] or implant failure [hazards ratio (HR) 2.5; p=0.2] and systemic bone loss. Conclusions: No relation was found between osteoporosis and peri-implantitis in an adult female population.