Dental implants in patients at high risk for infective endocarditis: a preliminary study

Abstract

The safety of dental implant placement in patients at high risk for infective endocarditis (IE) has never been shown. The outcome of osseointegrated implants in patients with artificial heart valves or with a history of an infected valve is not known. In this article we describe our experience of dental implant placement in patients at high risk for IE. A retrospective study was conducted on patients at high risk for IE who underwent dental implant placement. All the patients received prophylactic antibiotic treatment before the surgical procedure, in accordance with the relevant American Heart Association guidelines. A total 13 patients underwent 16 surgical procedures for the placement of 57 dental implants over a period of 17 years. Within the follow-up period, no case of IE was reported. Two implants failed before exposure in one patient, one patient suffered from mitral valve thrombosis 14 days after the dental procedure, and another patient suffered a stroke 6 months following treatment. Despite the limitation of the small group of patients and the known low incidence of IE, dental implants may be regarded as a legitimate procedure for patients at high risk for IE.

Patients at high risk for infective endocarditis (IE) may be at risk of an endocardial infection in the case of bacteremia . The oral cavity is known to be a source of pathogens that may affect the heart valves and other heart anatomic anomalies . In the case of IE, bacterial seeding takes place by direct hematogenous spread. It has been suggested that bacteremia occurs during dental treatments, as well as during everyday activities such as tooth brushing and mastication. It is believed that some patients are more susceptible than others, and therefore at higher risk .

Major medical authorities have recently published new clinical guidelines for the prevention of IE. These protocols suggest that the use of antibiotics as a prophylactic measure for reducing the incidence of IE should be reserved only for those at high risk for IE. In 2006, the British Society for Antimicrobial Chemotherapy (BSAC) was the first to call for the use of prophylactic antibiotics to be minimalized . Nevertheless the new protocol still recognizes the group of patients at high risk for IE as being exposed to an increased risk of infection.

From 2006 to 2009, four new evidence-based clinical guidelines were published, providing a definition of high-risk patient groups and the dental treatments requiring prophylactic therapy. In general, patients with an artificial heart valve, those with a history of IE, and those with certain congenital defects remained the only patients considered at high risk. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE; Department of Health, UK), which provides recommendations and clinical guidelines for the UK National Health Service, revised its guidelines in 2008 and ended the concept of pre-treatment with antibiotics, except in the group of patients at high risk for IE . The list of dental treatments requiring prophylactic antibiotics included periodontal procedures and peri-apical manipulation, but with no specific reference to dental implants . This begs the question whether the use of dental implants is safe and justified in patients at high risk for IE.

The spread of infection from dental implants may occur at various stages. The early stage is the time at which the implant is inserted . A later stage relates to bacterial mucositis – the implant equivalent to gingivitis. This infection is evident in the peri-implant mucosa following the healing phase . Following implant exposure and placement of the prosthesis, bacteremia may originate from extensively inflamed and infected tissue around the implant with loss of alveolar bone, known as peri-implantitis . This risk remains for as long as the implant is in place and is similar to periodontitis around natural teeth.

No information regarding the safety of dental implant placement is available in the medical literature. This article summarizes our experience of dental implant placement in patients at high risk for IE.

Patients and methods

Data on patients at high risk for IE who underwent dental implant procedures were collected retrospectively from the registries of two oral medicine clinics in Israel. Between 1995 and 2012, 13 patients underwent 16 implant placement procedures in which 57 implants were inserted by several dentists. The surgical procedure for all patients was a two-stage implant placement. Data retrieved from the medical records included demographic details, number of procedures performed and implants placed, medical diagnosis, and anti-thrombotic and antibiotic prophylaxis therapy provided. Patient follow-up was at least 2 years. The institutional ethics board approved the data collection.

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Jan 19, 2018 | Posted by in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery | Comments Off on Dental implants in patients at high risk for infective endocarditis: a preliminary study

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