Dental implants: what increases the risk of loss

Dental implants are now considered a safe and above all sustainable solution in the event of missing teeth.An artificial tooth root is screwed into the jaw, an implant crown is attached to it.However, they are much more expensive than conventional bridges or prostheses.

For experienced treatments, the success rates are well over 95 percent.Nevertheless, dental implants can be lost or not correctly heal.An observation study examined on the 69.Annual Congress of the German Society for Mundsam, Maxillary and Shaved Surgery (DGMKG) in Frankfurt was presented.

All implant losses were documented

In the DGMKG President DR.Jörg-Ulf Wiegner created observation study was analyzed over a longer period of time.Between 2001 and 2017, all implant losses were examined.

The loss time, the implant type and the implant position, a previous bone structure in the jaw (augmentation), the prophylactic administration of antibiotics before the operation, the gap configuration and the type, fastening and sufficiency of the prosthetic care were documented.

Cylinder implants had the highest complication rate

At a total of 26.385 patients were lost in 5.7 percent of the cases.Most patients in this cohort (73 women, 73 men) were between 40 and 60 years old.Of 163 implant losses, 88 in the lower jaw and 75 in the upper jaw were lost, 92 of which were planned as a free -end situation.

The cylinder implants, which were more common in the past and less common today, had the highest loss rates (14.2 percent).Smoking and diabetes mellitus also increased the complication rate, according to a press release.

The implant length had no influence

The side tooth regions were often affected by losses above average.This attributed the doctors to the fact that it is more difficult for patients to adequately clean and maintain the side teeth.

A significantly increased probability of a loss of implant was identified in implants with a diameter of 6 mm.The implant length therefore has no influence.

Bone structure protects against loss

Bone -building measures showed a rather protective influence for the probability of survival of the implants (loss rates in implants with bone structure: 3.6 percent).

The preventive augmentation - replenishment of the tooth compartment in the jaw after a previous tooth removal - brought a further significant reduction in the implant losses (loss rate: 1.6 percent).

Dental implants: what increases the risk of loss

In addition, there was an enormous reduction in the implant losses during the healing phase after the introduction of preoperative antibiotic prophylaxis.

Conclusion of the doctors: This investigation into what increases the risk of losing a tooth implant would have to join further, more comprehensive studies.However, taking into account the determined influencing factors could already help to further increase the success rate in practice.

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