A study has assessed the efficacy and long-term outcome of dental implant treatment in patients with liver transplants. 

Paredes V, López-Pintor RM, Torres J, de Vicente JC, Sanz M, Hernández G. Implant treatment in pharmacologically immunosup-pressed liver transplant patients: A prospective-controlled study. Clinic Oral Implants Research, 2017; 00: 1-8. 

INTRODUCTION 

The transplantation of healthy organs to replace damaged organs is undoubtedly one of the great advances of twentieth-century medicine. However, transplant recipients receive complex medications that cause significant immunosuppression, which may favour the onset of infections. The use of dental implants in these patients has been questioned due to complications they might suffer. 

OBJECTIVES 

The main objective of this prospective study was to assess the long-term outcome of implant therapy in patients with liver transplants (PLT). The secondary objective was to evaluate several implant- and patient-dependent variables, such as peri-implantitis (PI), peri-implant mucositis (MiP), bone loss (BL) and immediate postoperative complications. 

MATERIAL & METHODS 

Between 1999 and 2008, two groups, including 16 pharmacologically immunosuppressed PLTs and 16 similar controls, received 52 and 54 implants respectively. For four weeks after placement of the implants they rinsed with 0.12% chlorhexidine plus 0.05% cetylpyridinium chloride. At that time, postoperative healing was evaluated and a mean follow-up of more than eight years was carried out, during which radiographic, clinical and periodontal parameters were recorded to assess implant survival as well as implant- and patient-dependent outcomes. 

RESULTS 

Early post-surgical complications were similar in both groups. The survival rate of the implant was 100% in the PLT group and 98.15% in the control group (CG). MiP was diagnosed in 35.42% of the implants and 64.29% of the patients in the PLT group, and in 43.40% of the implants and 56.25% of the patients in the CG. PI was observed in 4.17% of the implants and 7.10% of the patients in the PLT group, and in 9.43% of the implants and 18.80% of the patients in the CG. 

CONCLUSION 

Pharmacological immunosuppression in patients with liver transplants was not a risk factor for implant failure or for peri-implant disease incidence. Liver transplants are not a contraindication for treatment with dental implants, although these patients must be closely monitored during subsequent clinical follow-up.