The Effect of Anti-Depressants on Dental Implant Failure: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

PURPOSE: The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to analyze the risk of dental implant failure for patients who had a history of anti-depressant use.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: An electronic search was performed up to June 2023 in three databases, including PubMed/MEDLINE, Web of Science and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials with data on comparison of implant failure rate for patients with and without the use of antidepressants were included. Meta-analyses for the risk ratio of implant failure rate at the patient level and implant level were performed.

RESULTS: Eleven clinical studies were selected for inclusion in this review. The meta-analyses showed a risk ratio of 2.44 (95% confidence interval= 1.75 to 3.39, p< 0.0001) and 2.44 (95% CI= 1.73 to 3.46, p< 0.0001) for the implant failure at the patient level and implant level, respectively. The comparisons presented a low heterogeneity for the patient-level analysis and a moderate heterogeneity for the implant-level analysis among the pooled studies. Subgroup analyses also revealed that patients who received only selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) or SSRIs with other type of anti-depressants had a higher risk of implant failure than those who were not on any anti-depressants.

CONCLUSIONS: The current review demonstrates the use of anti-depressants, such as SSRIs, may increase the risk of dental implant failure at both patient level and implant level. Although limited evidence suggests that a certain type of SSRI (sertraline) may have more influence on implant failure than other SSRIs, future studies are needed to warrant this finding.