Smoking significantly increases risk of early implant failure, particularly in maxilla: Study

Smoking significantly increases risk of early implant failure, particularly in maxilla suggests a study published in the Journal of Dentistry.

A study was done to assess the association between smoking and early dental implant failure by conducting a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies. Thirty-two observational clinical studies published between 1994 and 2024 were included, with a total of 59,246 implants at implant level and 14,115 patients at individual level.

At implant level, a meta-analysis of 21 included cohort studies showed that smoking was associated with increased risk of early dental implant failure compared with non-smoking (odds ratio [OR], 2.59; 95 % confidence interval [CI], 2.08–3.23). Three included studies reported that smoking was associated with higher maxillary early dental implant failure risk (OR, 5.90; 95 %CI, 2.38–14.66) than that of mandible (OR, 3.76; 95 %CI, 1.19–11.87). At individual level, meta-analysis of thirty cohort studies indicated that risk of early implant failure in smokers was 100 % higher than in non-smokers (OR, 2.00; 95 %CI, 1.43–2.80). Three case-control studies found that risk of early implant failure of smokers was 59 % higher than that of non-smokers (OR, 1.59; 95 %CI, 1.28–1.97). Smoking was significantly associated with early dental implant failure, particularly at the maxillary location, at both implant and individual level.

These findings suggest smoking cessation is a crucial factor in reducing risk of early dental implant failure. There is uncertainty about the extent to which smoking influences early dental implant failure, our meta-analysis of findings emphasize smoking was significantly associated with early dental implant failure, particularly at the maxillary location.

Reference:

Ying-Ying Fan, Shu Li, Ye-Jun Cai, Tai Wei, Peng Ye. Smoking in relation to early dental implant failure: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Dentistry, Volume 151, 2024, 105396, ISSN 0300-5712. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jdent.2024.105396. (https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0300571224005669)