Is Alcohol Consumption Associated With Protection Against Peri-Implantitis? A Retrospective Cohort Analysis

Abstract

Recent studies have pointed to the effects of social factors on the health of dental implants. We investigated whether varying levels of alcohol consumption will influence the health of dental implants and associated peri-implant inflammation. A retrospective cohort study was performed to evaluate implants placed from 2006 to 2012 at the Philadelphia Veteran's Affairs Medical Center. Alcohol consumption was gathered from the health maintenance records within 3months of implant placement and served as the predictor variable. Analysis was performed at follow-up visits for the presence of the outcome variable, peri-implantitis, which was assessed at an implant level. A multivariable generalized estimating equation logistic regression model was constructed, and a Wald test was used to analyze the statistical significance of each parameter. The results were interpreted as an odds ratio estimate, including the 95% confidence interval. Descriptive statistics were used to compute and analyze the data, with P<.05 used to define statistical significance. Demographically, our cohort consisted mainly of male patients (92%), with an average age of 60years at implant placement. The mean interval to peri-implantitis was 30±25months. Peri-implantitis occurred most frequently within 2years of implant placement. The incidence of peri-implantitis was greatest among heavy alcohol consumers (42%) and lowest among mild and moderate consumers (12 and 6%, respectively). Compared with no consumption, mild alcohol consumption was associated with a 47% decrease in peri-implantitis (P<.0223) and moderate consumption was associated with a 75% decrease (P<.0250). Heavy consumption was associated with a nearly threefold increase in peri-implantitis (P<.0001). The results from our retrospective cohort analysis revealed that mild to moderate alcohol consumption is associated with a lower rate of peri-implantitis. However, heavy consumption was associated with an increase in the incidence of peri-implantitis among patients with dental implants.