Survival of dental implants in patients undergoing chemotherapy: an observational study

BACKGROUND: There are a limited number of clinical studies in indexed literature that have assessed the survival of dental implants among patients with systemic cancers undergoing chemotherapy. The present observational study aimed to assess the survival of dental implants in patients undergoing chemotherapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The primary outcome variable was the survival of dental implants in patients undergoing chemotherapy. Participants were categorized into two groups: Test Group, consisting of patients who had undergone dental implant placement and were currently receiving chemotherapy for systemic cancers, and the Control Group, comprising systemically healthy individuals who had undergone dental implant therapy (DAT). The peri-implant modified plaque and bleeding indices (mPI and mBI), probing depth (PD), and crestal bone loss (CBL) were assessed. Data normality was assessed and group comparisons were done. Level of significance was set at P < 0.05. RESULTS: Twenty-five (14 males and 11 females) and 28 (15 males and 13 females) individuals were included in the test and control groups, respectively. The mean age of individuals in the test and control groups were 69.6 ± 3.7 and 66.1 ± 4.7 years, respectively. Individuals in the test group were diagnosed with cancer 1.3 ± 0.3 years ago and were currently being treated with 5-fluorouracil and carboplatin in three-cycles. In the test and control groups, 15 and 35 implants, which were in function for 2.4 ± 0.6 and 5.7 ± 0.2 years, respectively were subjected to clinical and radiographic evaluation. There was no difference in the mean scores of mPI, mBI, PD and CBL in the test and the control group. In the test control group, the implant survival rates were 60% and 100%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Chemotherapy is not an absolute contraindication for DAT; however, the long-term survival of implants in these individuals is uncertain.