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MONTREAL, Canada: Researchers have found that selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), one of the most widely used drugs for the treatment of depression worldwide, may increase the risk of failure of osseointegrated implants. The antidepressant has previously been associated with reduced bone formation and increased risk of bone fracture.
In the study, researchers at McGill University reviewed the records of 292 female and 198 male patients aged 17 to 93 who had received dental implants between January 2007 and January 2013. In total, they reviewed 916 dental implants, of which 94 were placed in 51 users of SSRIs.
Over the study period, 868 implants survived and 48 failed. The researchers found that failure rates were significantly higher in SSRI users (10.6 percent) compared with those who did not take SSRIs (4.6 percent). They hypothesized that implant failure in the SSRI group was mainly associated with problems in the mechanical loading of the implants, indicating that SSRIs might cause bone loss. However, future studies are needed to confirm the hypothesis, the researchers said.
In addition, smoking and small implant diameter (≤ 4 mm) were associated with an increased risk of implant failure. Failures occurred mostly (80 percent) between four and 14 months after implant placement.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, antidepressants are the third most common prescription drug taken by Americans of all ages. They are most frequently used by persons aged 18–44. An estimated 11 percent of Americans aged 12 years and over take antidepressant medication.
The study, titled "Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors and the Risk of Osseointegrated Implant Failure: A Cohort Study," was published online on Sept. 3 in the Journal of Dental Research ahead of print.
