Is Smoking a Risk Factor for Implant Long-term Prognosis ?

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Is Smoking a Risk Factor for Implant Long-term Prognosis ?
G.E. ROMANOS, K. LAKKOS, and G.-H. NENTWIG, Dental School Frankfurt, Germany
March 2004
Clinical Implant Studies
Smoking has been defined as a high risk factor for the prognosis of periodontally involved teeth Lit.) because it is associated with alveolar bone loss and attachment loss as well as pocket formation (Obeid and Bercy, 2000). Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the periimplant condition of Ankylos implants (Friadent-Dentsply, Mannheim, Germany) placed in regular smokers (more than 10 cig./day; more than 10 years) and functionally loaded. Methods: 407 implants were placed in different areas of bone quality and loaded with varied loading protocols (early, progressive, delayed, immediate). Periimplant clinical (PlI, SBI, PPD, KM, Periotest) and radiological indices (vertical/horizonatal bone loss) were performed at the time of installation of the prosthetic reconstruction (To) as well as at the follow-up visits (T). Results: After a loading period of 45.50 (¨± 30.83) months, most of the implants showed healthy clinical parameters (To/T: PlI: 0.29¨±0.54/0.55¨±0.71; SBI: 0.23¨±0.49/0.34¨±0.58; PPD: 2.21¨±0.83/3.01¨±1.47mm; KM: 2.71¨±1.86/3.18¨±2.06mm; Periotest: -1.19¨±2.91/-1.41¨±3.89). Only 18 sites (5%) had more vertical bone loss and only 6 sites (1.69%) horizontal bone loss more than 2mm between the To and T evaluation visits. Four implants were lost during the healing phase. This represents a cumulative survival rate of 99%. Conclusions: The findings presented here showed that smoking was not a risk factor, which may influence negatively the long-term prognosis of oral implants.