Effect of dental implant therapy on the preservation of orofacial tissues: A systematic review and meta‐analysis

Abstract

ObjectiveFundamentally, this review addresses the following question: In partially or fully edentulous patients, do implant‐supported dental prostheses preserve orofacial tissues when compared to conventional prostheses or no therapy?Materials and MethodsThis study was conducted according to the 2020 PRISMA guidelines for systematic reviews. Electronic searches were conducted at PubMed and Embase databases followed by manual search. Clinical studies comparing the effect of implant‐supported prostheses with conventional rehabilitation or no treatment on alveolar bone resorption, remaining teeth, and jaw muscle thickness were considered for inclusion. A qualitative synthesis was conducted with all included studies, and data from selected studies were pooled quantitatively to perform a meta‐analysis.ResultsA total of 14 studies were selected for analysis. Six studies reported on the effect of implant therapy on alveolar bone resorption (n = 453), six on the remaining teeth (n = 1014), while four studies evaluated masseter muscle thickness (n = 158). The results of the meta‐analyses assessing alveolar bone resorption in the posterior mandible and in the anterior area of the maxilla, both fixed and random effects models, yielded no benefit of rehabilitation with implant‐supported prostheses when compared to conventional prostheses. For masseter bone thickness, however, a significant benefit for implant‐supported prosthesis was observed.ConclusionsThis systematic review and meta‐analysis were unable to unequivocally answer the focus question. There are some indicators of the benefit of implant‐supported prostheses over conventional prostheses or no therapy in preserving orofacial tissues, particularly for masseter muscle thickness. However, the evidence is still insufficient to confirm such perception.

Oral function in completely edentulous patients rehabilitated with implant‐supported dental prostheses: A systematic review and meta‐analysis

“…Although this review also identified studies for evaluating the effect of implant‐supported rehabilitation on the masseter muscle thickness (Amaral et al, 2019; Maniewicz et al, 2019; Müller et al, 2012; 2013), this parameter was excluded from this review since it is not oral function and will be presented in one of the other ITI consensus papers (De Souza et al, 2023).…”

Group 4 ITI Consensus Report: Patient benefits following implant treatment in partially and fully edentulous patients

“…Effect of dental implant therapy on the preservation of orofacial tissues: a systematic review and meta‐analysis (De Souza et al, 2023). [Correction made October 2023, after original online publication: reference year ‘2023’ added here and in reference list].…”

“…3. Effect of dental implant therapy on the preservation of orofacial tissues: a systematic review and meta-analysis (De Souza et al, 2023).…”

“…[Correction made October 2023, after original online publication: reference year ‘2023’ added here and in reference list]. Oral function in completely edentulous patients rehabilitated with implant‐supported dental prostheses: A systematic review and meta‐analysis (Srinivasan et al, 2023). [Correction made October 2023, after original online publication: reference year ‘2023’ added here and in reference list]. Effect of dental implant therapy on the preservation of orofacial tissues: a systematic review and meta‐analysis (De Souza et al, 2023). [Correction made October 2023, after original online publication: reference year ‘2023’ added here and in reference list].…”