Abstract
PurposePatients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) often suffer from premature tooth loss. This is a retrospective case series of patients with systemic sclerosis who were treated with dental implants.MethodsSSc patients treated with at least one dental implant between 5 August 1998 and 31 December 2018 were included in this long-term retrospective study. The primary study variables were the plaque index (PLI), sulcus bleeding index (SBI), peri-implant pocket depth (PPD) and interincisal distance (ID). The test for marginal homogeneity analysed whether the SBI and PLI values changed between examination and follow-up. A linear regression was performed for the PPD measurement. The rank correlation coefficient compared the SBI with the PLI and the PPD with the PLI. The survival rate data for the implants were analysed by the Kaplan–Meier procedure. P < .05 was considered significant.ResultsTwenty-four patients [(age: mean 59.6 years (SD ± 13.08)] received a total of 72 implants. ID resulted in a mean value of 29.54 mm (SD ± 6.4 mm). The mean value of the PPD was between 2.4 mm and 2.8 mm. A comparison of the SBI with the PLI and the PPD with the PLI showed a significantly positive correlation between the SBI and the PLI and between the PPD and the PLI. The correlation between the PPD and the PLI (Spearman rho: 0.36, p < 0.001) was less pronounced than that between the SBI and the PLI (Spearman rho: 0.61, p < 0.001). Kaplan–Meier analysis showed a post-10-year implant survival rate of 87.6% (95%-KI: 75.5–94.0).ConclusionImplant-supported oral rehabilitation can be carried out and maintained successfully in SSc patients.
Highlights
The term systemic sclerosis (SSc) is assigned to a complex of inflammatory and fibrotic diseases referred to as collagenoses
With regard to the supplier, 56 of the 72 implants were from Straumann (Basel, Switzerland) (52 × Regular Neck Tissue Level, 4 × Bone Level), 15 implants were from Thommen Medical SPI (Grenchen, Switzerland) and 1 implant was from Friadent (Frialit 2) (York, USA)
61 of these 65 implants could be included in the statistical analysis of the plaque index (PLI), sulcus bleeding index (SBI) and peri-implant pocket depth (PPD), as no data were collected from 4 implants because of early loss
Summary
The term systemic sclerosis (SSc) is assigned to a complex of inflammatory and fibrotic diseases referred to as collagenoses. Differentiation is possible with regard to the progress of the disease, the involvement of the internal organs and the specific antibodies produced [3]. The diagnosis criteria, which were originally defined by the American College of Rheumatology (ACR), were subjected to further delineation some years ago in cooperation with the European League against Rheumatism (EULAR). These comprise clinical, clinical chemistry and immunoserological data that are weighted on the basis of their value, forming a summation score [4]. When combined with findings from capillary microscopy, the disease can be determined earlier and with greater sensitivity (Table 1) [5]
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