Evaluation of oral implant survival rate in postmenopausal women with osteopenia/osteoporosis. A retrospective pilot study.

BACKGROUND: Implant placement is a common part of dental rehabilitation in older individuals. The role of diminished bone mineral density on the healing of dental implants remains to be elucidated. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess the implant survival rate in postmenopausal women with osteopenia/osteoporosis. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was conducted of postmenopausal women treated with dental implants and stratified into two groups: those receiving antiresorptive therapy (W >/= 50 years S) or those not receiving treatment (W >/= 50 years U). The predictor variable was osteopenia/osteoporosis treatment. The outcome variable was implant failure rate at stage two uncovering. Other study variables included: age, implant location, and bone graft placement. T-test, chi-square test, and univariate and multivariate logistic regression were computed. A p-value<0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: The sample was composed of 93 W >/= 50 years U (197 implants) and 114 W >/= 50 years S (189 implants). W >/= 50 years U showed a statistically higher implant failure rate with chi-square testing compared to W >/= 50 years S (p=0.022). However, univariate, and multivariate logistic regression between age, location, bone grafting, and implant failure did not demonstrate significant associations. CONCLUSION: Both groups integrated dental implants successfully, with a low failure rate. Implant location, bone grafting, and osteopenia/osteoporosis treatment did not significantly affect osseointegration at uncovering.