A Prospective, Controlled, Multicenter Study to Evaluate the Clinical Outcome of Implant Treatment in Women with Osteoporosis/Osteopenia: 5-Year Results

The impact of osteoporosis on implant treatment is still a matter of debate in the scientific community, as it may possibly lead to higher failure rates. As long-term controlled trials are missing, the aim of this study was to verify the long-term outcome of implants placed in patients with systemic osteoporosis. Postmenopausal women in need of implants underwent bone mineral density measurements in hip and spine, using dual X-ray absorptiometry scans. Based on T-scores, they were divided into 2 groups: group O (osteoporosis group) with a T-score <=-2 or group C (control group) with a T-score of >=-1. Implants were placed in a 2-stage manner and loaded 4 to 8 wk after abutment surgery. Six months after loading and thereafter yearly, clinical and radiographical parameters were assessed. In total, 148 implants were placed in 48 patients (mean age: 67 y [range, 59-83]). Sixty-three implants were placed in 20 patients (group O) and 85 implants in 28 patients (group C). After 5 y, 117 implants (38 in group O and 79 in the group C) in 37 patients were assessed. Cumulative survival rate on an implant level was 96.5% (group O: 91.5%; group C: 100.0% [P < 0.05]) and 95.7% (group O: 89.2%; group C: 100.0% [P > 0.05]) on a patient level. The overall marginal bone-level alterations, after 5 y of loading, were -0.09 +/- 0.78 mm (group O: -0.15 +/- 0.50 mm; group C: -0.06 +/- 0.89 mm) on an implant level and -0.09 +/- 0.54 mm (group O: -0.18 +/- 0.43 mm; group C: 0.06 +/- 0.58 mm) on a patient level (P > 0.05). Oral implant therapy in osteoporotic patients is a reliable treatment option with comparable osseointegration rates, implant survival, and marginal bone-level alterations after 5 y of functional loading (ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00745121).