The Success of Chemically Modified, Sandblasted, and Large-Grit Acid-Etched Implants in Uncontrolled Diabetic Patients: A Case‒Control Study

The purpose of the current study was to assess the survival rate of chemically modified, sandblasted, and large-grit acid-etched dental implants placed in diabetic patients.

The current study is a case‒control study on diabetic patients. Patients consented to have the implant surgery after being advised about the risk of failure and associated risks if they kept ignoring follow-up and adjusting their blood glucose levels. Patients were divided into three groups: Group A, with hemoglobin A1c less than 6.5%; Group B, with hemoglobin A1c ranging from 9 to 10.5%; and Group C, ranging from 10.6 to 12%. The primary outcome was bone loss assessed via radiography, and the secondary outcome was stability assessed via resonance frequency analysis. One-way ANOVA was used to assess the statistical significance of intergroup continuous data, and p value was fixed at 0.05. Results: A total of thirty bone-level dental implants were included in the current study. After 8 weeks, the assessment of bone loss using digital radiography showed that in group (A), the bone loss was 0.08 ± 0.08 mm; in group (B), the bone loss was 0.2 ± 0.09 mm; and in group (C), the bone loss was 0.3 ± 0.07 mm. Bone loss was significantly different between patients with controlled and uncontrolled diabetes (P = 0.001).

Regarding implant stability, at eight weeks, the results showed a statistically nonsignificant difference among the three groups (P value = 0.08). Group (A) had a greater percentage of RFA reads (74.3 ± 4.2) than groups (B) (76.8 ± 4.8) and (C) (78.2 ± 1.5).

However, the implant showed successful primary stability. However, the use of chemically modified, sandblasted, and large-grit acid-etched dental implants is not recommended in patients with uncontrolled diabetes because of significant crestal bone loss.