Dental implants in patients with epidermolysis bullosa: a systematic review

PURPOSE: To integrate the available data published on patients with epidermolysis bullosa (EB) rehabilitated with dental implants, as well as to review the recommendations for EB patients receiving implants. METHODS: An electronic search was undertaken in February 2019 in five databases. RESULTS: Sixteen publications were included, reporting 28 patients with EB, rehabilitated with 161 dental implants. The mean ± SD patients’ age at implant surgery was 34.7 ± 12.1 years (range, 13–56). Only one implant was placed in the molar region, all other implants were placed in the incisor, canine, and premolar regions. Patients received a mean ± SD of 5.8 ± 2.8 implants (range, 2–11). Most of the patients received implant-supported fixed prostheses (fixed partial 14.3%, fixed full-arch 60.7%, overdenture 25%). Implant and prosthesis failure rates were 1.3% and 0%, respectively. The two implant failures were detected before or at the abutment connection. The mean ± SD follow-up time was of 39.2 ± 24.5 months (range, 6–111). The EB patient quality-of-life improved considerably as a result of treatment with dental implants. There is a series of dental care considerations that should be followed to smooth the implant treatment in EB patients. CONCLUSIONS: The dental implant failure rate in EB patients seems to be very low, although the few cases reported in the literature were followed up for a short mean period, i.e., just a little bit longer than 3 years. More cases followed up for a long period are needed in order to be able to make a more reliable prognosis for the long-term oral rehabilitation of EB patients with dental implants.