Long term clinical performance of 10 871 dental implants with up to 22 years of follow‐up: A cohort study in 4247 patients

BACKGROUND: The present retrospective study was aimed to assess the long‐term clinical performance of dental implants in a cohort study of 4247 patients. METHODS: A longitudinal observational cohort study was done on all implants performed by a single periodontist from July 1995 to April 2019. The main outcome variables of this study were implant failure and marginal bone level around implants. RESULTS: The study participants received a total of 10 871 implants with a mean of 2.56 implants per patient. The cohort was followed‐up to 22.2 years (mean = 4.5 ± 4.2). Among the 4247 patients of the current study, 140 patients (3.3%) experienced a combined total of 178 implant failures. According to life table analysis, at the implant level the cumulative survival rate at 3, 5, 10, and 15 years was 98.9%, 98.5%, 96.8%, and 94.0%, respectively while at patient level was 97.4%, 96.7%, 92.5%, and 86% at 3, 5, 10, and 15 years. Patients with multiple units were at a greater risk for having an implant failure. Baseline bone level was 0.09 ± 0.28 mm while at 8–10 years the mean bone level was 0.49 ± 0.74 mm. The incidence of peri‐implant mucositis at the implant level was 9.4% at 2–3 years, 9.3% at 4–5 years, 12.1% at 6–7 years, and 11.9% at 8–10 years. The incidence of peri‐implantitis was 2%, 2.6%, 3.2%, and 7.1% at 2–3, 4–5, 6–7, and 8–10 years, respectively. Cigarette smoking and diabetes mellitus were positively correlated with implant failure. CONCLUSIONS: Though the results are promising and encouraging in terms of survival and bone level over time, it is important to emphasize the potential risk factors and consider them prior to dental implant placement.