Can Preoperative Blood Inflammatory Biomarkers Predict Early Dental Implant Outcomes in Systemically Healthy Patients?

TL;DR

This study investigates if blood inflammatory markers can predict dental implant success in healthy patients.

Contribution

It identifies the systemic immune-inflammation index (SII) as a significant predictor of implant outcomes.

Findings

Implant success rate was 95.7% with 4.3% early failures.

SII showed statistically significant discrimination for implant outcomes.

NLR, PLR, and CRP did not improve prediction of implant failure.

Abstract

The aim of this study was to assess whether baseline the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), the platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), the systemic immune-inflammation index (SII), and C-reactive protein (CRP) could predict postoperative outcomes in systemically healthy patients receiving dental implants. A retrospective analysis of 116 systemically healthy adults receiving dental implants was conducted. To minimise confounding, individuals over 50 years old, smokers, and those with systemic diseases, stage III/IV periodontitis, or current medication use were excluded. Periodontal status was classified as clinically healthy or stable. Baseline CRP and complete blood count-derived indices (NLR, PLR, SII) were recorded preoperatively. The primary outcome was osseointegration (proper versus impaired). Implant success was 95.7% (n = 111), with early implant failure occurring in 4.3% (n = 5). Females exhibited higher PLR values than males (p = 0.041), and SII was higher in periodontally stable patients compared to clinically healthy ones (p = 0.036). In systemically healthy patients, routine preoperative screening based on NLR, PLR, and CRP did not improve prediction of early implant failure, whereas SII demonstrated good, statistically significant discrimination (p = 0.015). These findings emphasise the need for further research to clarify the predictive value of blood inflammatory biomarkers.

Figures