Since patients on intravenous bisphosphonates sometimes suffer from osteonecrosis of the jaw, questions have risen about placing implants in them. So researchers at the Karolinska Institute and the University of Connecticut undertook a literature review to see how well implants osseointegrate in these patients.
In an article published in the Journal of Periodontology (April 2010, Vol. 81:4, pp. 479-484), they reported on 10 studies in which patients were using oral bisphosphonates and two in which they were using the drugs intravenously.
In six case reports, the implants osseointegrated successfully and functioned well. Four retrospective studies also found that the implants succeeded in these patients. Two studies suggested that the drugs reduced the success of the implants.
"Dental implants can osseointegrate and remain functionally stable in patients using bisphosphonates," the researchers concluded.
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