Dental implants in patients with Sjögren's syndrome: a case series and a systematic review

Prognosis of Single Implant-Supported Prosthesis in Patients With Primary Sjögren's Syndrome: A Five-Year Prospective Clinical Study

BACKGROUND

Primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS) is a chronic systemic autoimmune disease characterized by hyposalivation. Currently, there is limited evidence for the prognosis of dental implant treatment in Sjögren's syndrome.

AIM/HYPOTHESIS

We hypothesized comparable clinical outcomes of implant-supported restorations in pSS-patients and control subjects, and improvement in oral health-related quality of life 5 years after restoration.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Patients with pSS and matched (age, gender, and tooth region) control group were recruited between June 2016 and March 2020. The clinical and radiological examination were performed, and patient-reported oral health impact profile (OHIP-49) questionnaire was used 2 months (baseline), 1, 3, and 5 years after prosthetic treatment.

RESULTS

We included 23 patients with pSS and 24 matched control subjects (all women, mean age: 57.1 years). The overall DMFT (decayed-missed-filled-tooth) was significantly higher (p = 0.008), symptoms of dry mouth were more severe (p = 0.001), and unstimulated and chewing-stimulated saliva flow rates were significantly lower (p < 0.001) in pSS than in control group. All implants survived with no implant mobility. At implant sites, the plaque index and probing depths did not differ (p = 0.301 and 0.446, respectively), but the gingival index was significantly higher (p = 0.003) in pSS than control group. The mean marginal bone loss, prosthetic complications, and clinician-reported aesthetic outcomes were similar in both groups after 5 years. The OHIP scores were significantly higher in the pSS than control group (p < 0.001) but reduced significantly in both groups (p = 0.026).

CONCLUSION

Replacement of missing single teeth with dental implants was successful in patients with pSS 5 years after restoration.

Dental implant considerations in patients with systemic diseases: An updated comprehensive review

BACKGROUND

Various medical conditions and the drugs used to treat them have been shown to impede or complicate dental implant surgery. It is crucial to carefully monitor the medical status and potential post-operative complications of patients with systemic diseases, particularly elderly patients, to minimize the risk of health complications that may arise.

AIM

The purpose of this study was to review the existing evidence on the viability of dental implants in patients with systemic diseases and to provide practical recommendations to achieve the best possible results in the corresponding patient population.

METHODS

The information for our study was compiled using data from PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science and Google Scholar databases and searched separately for each systemic disease included in our work until October 2023. An additional manual search was also performed to increase the search sensitivity. Only English-language publications were included and assessed according to titles, abstracts and full texts.

RESULTS

In total, 6784 studies were found. After checking for duplicates and full-text availability, screening for the inclusion criteria and manually searching reference lists, 570 articles remained to be considered in this study.

CONCLUSION

In treating patients with systemic conditions, the cost-benefit analysis should consider the patient's quality of life and expected lifespan. The success of dental implants depends heavily on ensuring appropriate maintenance therapy, ideal oral hygiene standards, no smoking and avoiding other risk factors. Indications and contraindications for dental implants in cases of systemic diseases are yet to be more understood; broader and hardcore research needs to be done for a guideline foundation.

Survival and Success of Dental Implants in Patients with Autoimmune Diseases: a Systematic Review

Objectives

The purpose of this systematic review is to disclose the impact of autoimmune diseases and their medical treatment on dental implant survival and success.

Material and Methods

A literature search was conducted using MEDLINE (PubMed), The Cochrane Library and Embase up to December 6th, 2021. Any clinical study on patients with an autoimmune disease in whom implant therapy was performed was eligible. The quality of included studies was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. For each autoimmune disease group, data synthesis was divided into three groups: 1) overall results of the autoimmune disease, 2) overall results of corresponding control groups and 3) overall results of the autoimmune disease with a concomitant autoimmune disease (a subgroup of group 1). Descriptive statistics were used.

Results

Of 4,865 identified articles, 67 could be included and mainly comprising case reports and retrospective studies with an overall low quality. Implant survival rate was 50 to 100% on patient and implant level after a weighted mean follow-up of 17.7 to 68.1 months. Implant success was sporadically reported. Data on immunosuppressive medication were too heterogeneously reported to allow detailed analysis.

Conclusions

Overall, a high implant survival rate was reported in patients with autoimmune diseases. However, the identified studies were characterized by a low quality. No conclusions could be made regarding implant success and the effect of immunosuppressants due to heterogeneous reporting.

Implant-supported prostheses in patients with special needs: A systematic literature review of protocols and outcomes

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM

Implant-supported prostheses for individuals with special needs have been considered high-risk because of the prevalence of poor oral hygiene and parafunction in this population; however, systematic evidence on protocols and outcomes is scarce.

PURPOSE

The purpose of this systematic review was to summarize implant procedures and outcomes for the special needs population.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A systematic literature review was conducted using PubMed, Embase, and Scopus databases in accordance with the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA) methodological framework. Data collected included patient information, location and number of implants, surgical and prosthetic procedures, behavior support techniques, postoperative follow-up, complications, and criteria for outcome assessment. Survival rates were pooled for quantitative analysis, and a separate analysis pooling data from groups of special needs patients that present similar risks was undertaken.

RESULTS

The qualitative analysis included 79 studies involving 759 patients and 2269 implants. The quantitative analysis included 65 studies concerning 666 patients with special needs and 1886 implants. The overall weighted implant survival rate was 95.4%, with a mean follow-up duration of 40.7 ±29.5 months.

CONCLUSIONS

In individuals with special needs considered suitable for implant-supported prostheses by their clinician, implant survival rates were similar to those reported in the general population. (J Prosthet Dent xxxx;xxx:xxx-xxx).

A Female Patient Recently Diagnosed with Sjogren Syndrome Presents to the Dental Office Seeking Upper and Lower Complete Dentures

Sjogren syndrome (SS) is a common autoimmune disease associated with the immune-mediated destruction of exocrine glands, primarily the salivary and lacrimal glands. As a result, patients have xerophthalmia and xerostomia (Sicca syndrome). The diagnosis of SS can be difficult due to its multifactorial nature and often insidious symptoms, and there is no one test for its diagnosis. The many oral manifestations in SS stemming from the xerostomia present challenges to the treating dentist. Dentists should be knowledgeable about SS and its palliative care to help improve their patients' quality of life.

Impact of local predisposing/precipitating factors and systemic drivers on peri‐implant diseases

BACKGROUND

Strong evidence suggests the infectious nature of peri-implant diseases occurring in susceptible hosts. Epidemiological reports, though, indicate that peri-implantitis is a site-specific entity. Hence, the significance of local factors that may predispose/precipitate plaque accumulation and the impact of systemic drivers that alter the immune response are relevant in the prevention and management of peri-implant disorders.

PURPOSE

The purpose of the present review is to shed light on the significance of local and systemic factors on peri-implant diseases, making special emphasis on the associations with peri-implantitis.

METHODS

The biologic plausibility and supporting evidence aiming at providing a concluding remark were explored in the recent scientific literature for local predisposing/precipitating factors and systemic drivers related to peri-implant diseases.

RESULTS

Local predisposing factors such as soft tissue characteristics, implant position and prosthetic design proved being strongly associated with the occurrence of peri-implant diseases. Hard tissue characteristics, however, failed to demonstrate having a direct association with peri-implant diseases. Robust data points toward the strong link between residual sub-mucosal cement and peri-implant diseases, while limited data suggests the impact of residual sub-mucosal floss and peri-implantitis. Systemic drivers/habits such as hyperglycemia and smoking showed a strong negative impact on peri-implantitis. However, there is insufficient evidence to claim for any link between metabolic syndrome, atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, and obesity and peri-implant diseases.

CONCLUSION

Local predisposing/precipitating factors and systemic drivers may increase the risk of peri-implant diseases. Therefore, comprehensive anamnesis of the patients, educational/motivational programs and exhaustive prosthetically-driven treatment planning must be fostered aiming at reducing the rate of biological complications in implant dentistry.

Dental implants in dentate primary and secondary Sjögren's syndrome patients: A multicenter prospective cohort study

OBJECTIVES

To prospectively assess the clinical performance and patient-reported outcomes of dental implants in dentate patients with primary and secondary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS and sSS, respectively) compared to patients without SS.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Thirty-seven implants were placed in 17 patients with pSS/sSS and 26 implants in 17 non-SS patients to replace missing (pre)molars. Clinical performance, marginal bone-level changes, patient satisfaction, and oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) were assessed at 1 (T1), 6 (T6), 12 (T12), and 18 (T18) months after placement of the superstructure. Marginal bone-level changes were measured on standardized dental radiographs. Clinical parameters included implant and crown survival, plaque, bleeding and gingival indices, and probing depth. Patient satisfaction and OHRQoL were assessed with validated questionnaires.

RESULTS

Implant survival at T18 was 100% in the patients with pSS/sSS and 96.2% in the non-SS group. Mean marginal bone loss at T18 did not differ between patients with pSS/sSS and non-SS patients, 1.10 ± 1.04 and 1.04 ± 0.75 mm, respectively (p = .87). Clinical performance was good with no differences between the groups for all outcome measures (p > .05). OHRQoL in patients with pSS/sSS had improved significantly after placement of implant supported crowns at all measuring moments compared to baseline (p < .05). Nevertheless, patient satisfaction and OHRQoL remained significantly higher for patients without SS at all measuring moments (p < .05).

CONCLUSION

Dental implants can be successfully applied in dentate patients with pSS/sSS and have a positive effect on OHRQoL.

Dental implants in patients suffering from autoimmune diseases: A systematic critical review

PURPOSE

This systematic review aimed to evaluate complications and survival rates of dental implants placed in patients suffering from autoimmune diseases.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A systematic review was conducted following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses systematic review guidelines (PRISMA), using Google scholar and PubMed electronic databases with a stop date of September 2021. The eligibility criteria included all full text human studies in the English language literature reporting on patients with autoimmune diseases treated with dental implants.

RESULTS

Fifty-five studies reporting on nine distinct autoimmune diseases were analyzed: 17 on Sjögren's syndrome (SS), 11 on oral lichen planus (OLP), 8 on Type 1 diabetes, 6 on rheumatoid arthritis (RA), 4 on systemic scleroderma (SSc), 3 on Crohn's disease (CD), 3 on systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), 2 on mucous membrane pemphigoid (MMB) and 1 on pemphigus vulgaris (PV). Despite the heterogeneity and methodological limitations of most of the studies, results showed that dental implant survival rates were comparable to those reported in the general population. However, patients with secondary SS or erosive OLP were more susceptible to developing peri-mucositis and increased marginal bone loss.

CONCLUSION

This review suggested that dental implants may be considered as a safe and viable therapeutic option in the management of edentulous patients suffering from autoimmune diseases. Nevertheless, scrupulous maintenance of oral hygiene and long-term follow-up emerge as being the common determinants for uneventful dental implant treatment.

Smoking and Dental Implants: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background and Objectives: Tobacco is today the single most preventable cause of death, being associated with countless diseases, including cancer and neurological, cardiovascular, and respiratory diseases. Smoking also brings negative consequences to oral health, potentially impairing treatment with dental implants. The present review aimed to evaluate the influence of smoking on dental implant failure rates and marginal bone loss (MBL). Materials and Methods: Electronic search was undertaken in three databases, plus a manual search of journals. Meta-analyses were performed, in addition to meta-regressions, in order to verify how the odds ratio (OR) and MBL were associated with follow-up time. Results: The review included 292 publications. Altogether, there were 35,511 and 114,597 implants placed in smokers and in non-smokers, respectively. Pairwise meta-analysis showed that implants in smokers had a higher failure risk in comparison with non-smokers (OR 2.402, p < 0.001). The difference in implant failure between the groups was statistically significant in the maxilla (OR 2.910, p < 0.001), as well as in the mandible (OR 2.866, p < 0.001). The MBL mean difference (MD) between the groups was 0.580 mm (p < 0.001). There was an estimated decrease of 0.001 in OR (p = 0.566) and increase of 0.004 mm (p = 0.279) in the MBL MD between groups for every additional month of follow-up, although without statistical significance. Therefore, there was no clear influence of the follow-up on the effect size (OR) and on MBL MD between groups. Conclusions: Implants placed in smokers present a 140.2% higher risk of failure than implants placed in non-smokers.

Dental Implants Inserted in Fresh Extraction Sockets versus Healed Sites: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

The present review aimed to evaluate the difference of dental implant failure rates and marginal bone loss (MBL) between implants inserted in fresh extraction sockets or healed sites. Electronic search was undertaken in three databases, plus manual search of journals, including studies randomized or not. Meta-analyses were performed besides meta-regressions, in order to verify how the odds ratio (OR) and MBL were associated with follow-up time. The review included 163 publications. Altogether, there were 17,278 and 38,738 implants placed in fresh extraction sockets and healed sites, respectively. Pairwise meta-analyses showed that implants in sockets had a higher failure risk in comparison to healed sites: OR 1.349, all studies included; OR 2.070, only prospective non-RCTs; OR 2.487, only RCTs (all p < 0.001). The difference in implant failure between the groups was statistically significant in the maxilla (OR 1.616, p = 0.029), but not in the mandible (OR 2.192, p = 0.075). The MBL mean difference (MD) between the groups was -0.053 mm (p = 0.089). There was an estimated decrease of 0.003 in OR (p = 0.284) and an increase of 0.006 mm (p = 0.036) in the MBL MD between groups for every additional month of follow-up. In conclusion, implants placed in fresh extraction sockets present higher risk of failure than implants placed in healed sites.

Is Sjogren's syndrome a risk factor/contraindication for dental implants? An umbrella review

INTRODUCTION

There have been concerns that longstanding oral dryness secondary to Sjogren's syndrome may increase the risk of failure of dental implants.

AIMS

The aim of the present study was to determine the level of methodological quality of systematic reviews that evaluated the effectiveness of dental implants in patients diagnosed with Sjogren's syndrome.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Databases of PubMed/Medline, LILACS, Science Direct and Dare Cochrane to October 2020 were evaluated. A total of 833 articles were initially identified but following use of appropriate inclusion and exclusion criteria 4 papers were identified for detailed analysis. An eventual study sample comprised 722 implants placed in 189 patients with a 95.22% success rate, the minimum follow-up time was 45.2 ± 23.8 months and the maximum 125.5 months. The studies were assessed for their methodological quality by the AMSTAR 2 tool, in which 3 had critically low quality and one low quality.

CONCLUSION

Oral rehabilitation with dental implants in patients with Sjogren's syndrome seems to have a high success rate; however, the low quality of relevant reports highlights the need for primary and secondary studies with better methodological design in order to reduce bias and provide reassurance for this treatment option.

Xerostomia aggravates ligation-induced peri-implantitis: A preclinical in vivo study

OBJECTIVES

Previous studies have indicated that xerostomia is a critical factor affecting periodontitis; nonetheless, it is controversial whether xerostomia impairs peri-implant tissue. The objective of this experimental study was to evaluate the effect of xerostomia on the peri-implant hard and soft tissues in the rat model.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Implants were placed in bilateral maxillae of male Wistar rats. The animals underwent submandibular and sublingual gland resection on both sides (DRY group) or sham operation (CTR group). Silk ligatures were placed around one side of abutments, which were randomly selected in each animal. The effects of xerostomia were assessed using micro-CT, histological analysis, real-time PCR, and 16S rRNA-based metagenomic analysis.

RESULTS

Ligation with silk thread caused bone resorption around implants. Although xerostomia itself did not induce bone resorption, it significantly enhanced silk ligature-mediated bone resorption around implants. Histological analysis and real-time PCR indicated that xerostomia induced inflammation and osteoclastogenesis around implants with silk ligatures. Furthermore, it altered the microbiota of the plaque on the silk thread around implants.

CONCLUSION

Xerostomia accelerates mucosal inflammation and osteoclastogenesis, which aggravates bone resorption around implants.

A Novel Approach for Immediate Implant-based Oral Rehabilitation in a Sjögren's Syndrome Patient Using Virtual Surgical and Prosthetic Planning

Sjögren's syndrome (SS) patients experience difficulties in wearing conventional dentures. After removal of all teeth the oral rehabilitation is challenging and time consuming using conventional treatment protocols. Although implant-retained overdentures are beneficial for this specific patient group, the average total oral rehabilitation time (TORT) usually takes at least six months and needs to be reduced to increase patients' quality of life (QoL). In this paper we report on a new treatment concept for immediate implant-based oral rehabilitation in a 77-year-old partial edentulous SS patient. Because of persistent pain, discomfort and retention problems with the conventional prosthetic devices, full clearance of the remaining mandibular dentition and immediate oral rehabilitation with an implant-retained overdenture were suggested. The treatment protocol included virtual surgical planning (VSP), combining a guided bone reduction of the mandibular alveolar process, immediate dental implant placement and restoration using a prefabricated bar and placement of the overdenture. This method demands the use of ionizing 3D imaging optionally combined with an optical dental scan or a conventional impression. Furthermore, one needs to gain experience using VSP software. This novel treatment concept for immediate implant-based oral rehabilitation using VSP proved to be feasible and safe in a SS patient, resulting in a significantly reduced TORT and improved QoL. Further research is needed to what extent this treatment concept could be beneficial to other patient groups, such as head and neck cancer patients.

Dental Implants in Patients with Oral Lichen Planus: A Systematic Review

Background and Objectives: To integrate the available published data on patients with oral lichen planus (OLP) rehabilitated with dental implants, as well as to review the recommendations for OLP patients receiving implants. Materials and Methods: An electronic search was undertaken in February 2019 using five databases. Publications reporting cases of patients with OLP and rehabilitated with implant-supported oral prosthesis were included. Results: Twenty-two publications were included (230 patients, 615 implants). The overall implant failure rate was 13.9% (85/610). In patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) the failure rate was 90.6% (29/32), but none of these implants lost osseointegration; instead, the implants were removed together with the tumor. One study presented a very high implant failure rate, 76.4% (42/55), in patients with "active lichen planus", with all implants failing between 7-16 weeks after implant placement, and its conflicting and incongruent results are discussed in detail. There was a statistically significant difference between the failure rates in implants installed in different jaws (maxilla/mandible) and when implants of different surfaces were used (turned/moderately rough), but not between patients with reticular or erosive OLP types, or between male and female patients. If OSCC patients and the cases of the latter study are not considered, then the failure rate becomes very low (2.7%, 14/523). The time between implant placement and failure was 25.4 ± 32.6 months (range 1-112). The mean ± SD follow-up was 58.9 ± 26.7 months (1-180). Conclusions: When the results of the one study with a very high failure rate and of the cases that developed OSCC are not considered, the dental implant failure rate in OLP patients was 2.7% after a follow-up of approximately five years. Recommendations are given when treating OLP patients with dental implants.