Impact of diabetes mellitus on the stabilization and osseointegration of dental implants: a systematic review

IntroductionDiabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disorder leading to hyperglycemia, which causes various complications due to vasculopathy. Adequate dental rehabilitation including dental implants plays a key role in promoting the eating habits of diabetics and better metabolic control. AimWe performed a systematic literature review to investigate the effect of diabetes mellitus on the stabilization and osseointegration of dental implants. MethodsWe searched PubMed and Scopus until October 2021. We used the following inclusion criteria: (i) study population included diabetics type I or II, (ii) outcomes were the dental implant failure or resonance frequency analysis, (iii) studies that investigate the effect of diabetes mellitus on the stabilization and osseointegration of dental implants, (iv) studies that were published in English, (v) studies that were published in journals with peer review system, (vi) studies including humans and not animals, (vii) studies that compared diabetics with non-diabetics, and (ix) quantitative studies. ResultsTwenty-nine studies met the inclusion criteria. Regarding implant failure, four studies found statistically significant more frequent implant failure in diabetics, while five studies found that implant failure was more frequent in diabetics but was not statistically significant. In contrast, ten studies found that implant failure was more frequent in non-diabetics but was not statistically significant. In addition, seven studies found that all diabetics and non-diabetics retained their implant during the study. In six studies that performed the resonance frequency analysis, no statistically significant difference was found between diabetics and non-diabetics. In three studies, the mean value of the implant stability quotient increased statistically significant in non-diabetics, while in three studies the mean value of the implant stability quotient increased statistically significant in diabetics. ConclusionsThe results of this review suggest that implant failure is not higher for diabetics than for non-diabetics. Diabetics seem to be able to achieve a rate of dental implants survival like that of non-diabetics. With regards to the resonance frequency analysis, no difference is found between diabetics and non-diabetics.