Short-term Success of Osseointegrated Dental Implants in HIV-positive Individuals

Short-term Success of Osseointegrated Dental Implants in HIV-positive Individuals
26 June 2003
P.C. RIANO1, G.C. STEVENSON1, A.J. MORETTI1, C.M. NICHOLS2, and C.M. FLAITZ1, 1 University of Texas, Dental Branch, Houston, USA, 2 Bering Omega Community Services, Houston, TX, USA
IADR
Objectives: The association between human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and the success of osseointegrated dental implants (ODI) is unknown. Some clinicians have questioned the feasibility of using ODI in HIV positive patients. The purpose of this prospective, cohort, multi-center pilot study was to investigate the success of ODI in a group of HIV positive and HIV negative individuals. Methods: Study population consisted of 24 adult edentulous patients: 8 patients were HIV negative (Control Group) and 16 patients were HIV positive (Test Group). Control group had 5 females and 3 males; ethnicity: 6 Caucasian, no African-American, 2 Hispanic. Mean age was 67 years (range = 50 to 82). Test group consisted of 6 females and 16 males; ethnicity: 15 Caucasian, 4 African-American, 2 Hispanic. Mean age was 49 years (range = 34 to 59). Mean CD4 was 467 cells/mm3 (range = 132 to 948). Viral Load range was undetectable to 113,576 copies/ml. Treatment planning, surgical placement, assessment of healing and osseointegration, and prosthetic rehabilitation were conducted under a standardized protocol. Two BioHorizons dental implants were placed in the anterior mandible of each patient. A mandibular implant-supported overdenture was constructed opposing a maxillary complete denture. Outcome measures of implant therapy success were based on the criteria described by Albrektsson and Zarb, 1986: pain, mobility, surrounding soft tissue, and radiographic bone level. A descriptive analysis of all the parameters measured in this study was conducted 6 months after placement of the mandibular denture to clinically evaluate the osseointegration of each dental implant. Comparison of the short-term success rate was made between the test and the control groups. Results: Every implant was clinically evaluated at 6 month as meeting all the criteria for being successfully osseointegrated. Conclusions: This short-term study demonstrates that ODI are a feasible and predictable treatment option in HIV positive patients.