The success of implants depends on both the patient and the treating physician

A new study by researchers at the Loma Linda University School of Dentistry was recently published in the Journal of Oral Implantology and reveals data on which characteristics of both the patient and the surgeon can influence the success of implants (October 2012, Vol. 38: suppl 1, pp. 469-477).

This study examined 50 patients who received permanent prosthetic work on dental implants. The total number of implants was 297 and the follow-up time was up to ten years with an average of three and a half years from the time of surgery to the last check-up.

This study examined 50 patients who received permanent prosthetic work on dental implants. The total number of implants was 297 and the follow-up time was up to ten years with an average of three and a half years from the time of surgery to the last check-up.

Results have shown that bruxism and diabetes increase the failure rates of implants. They also linked the failure of the implants to the surgeon’s lack of experience. In particular in the event of less than 5 years' experience, failure rates were higher and reached 12%. The number of surgeries and their complexity also influence the success of the implants. Implants placed by doctors who have placed less than 50 implants in total are twice as likely to fail.