Implant Therapy in Patients With Neurodegenerative Diseases—A Scoping Review

TL;DR

This review explores the use of dental implants in patients with neurodegenerative diseases, finding initial benefits but highlighting the need for more evidence.

Contribution

The paper reframes a systematic review into a scoping review to explore implant therapy outcomes in neurodegenerative disease patients.

Findings

Dental implants may improve chewing efficiency and quality of life in early-stage neurodegenerative disease patients.

Limited evidence suggests implants could help Parkinson's disease patients gain weight.

Continuous monitoring is crucial due to uncertain long-term outcomes in advanced cases.

Abstract

The increasing longevity of populations has resulted in a growing number of older adults requiring prosthodontic care, including those with neurodegenerative diseases (NDs). Neurodegenerative diseases pose significant challenges to prosthodontic care, and it remains unclear whether implant therapy in this population achieves outcomes comparable to those observed in the general older population.

A first systematic review was reframed to a scoping review using a PCC framework with Population (individuals with neurodegenerative diseases, who were partially or completely edentulous), Concept (implant therapy, planning, placement and maintenance, and any reported complications) and Context (dental and geriatric care settings).

The literature search identified 634 studies or case reports, of which none fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Seven papers (1 retrospective study, 2 prospective studies and 4 case reports) outside the inclusion criteria reported on patients with neurodegenerative diseases receiving implants, which suggest that dental implants seem to offer initial benefits in improving chewing efficiency, the quality of life and weight gain, especially in Parkinson's disease (PD) patients. However, their suitability for patients with advanced ND is uncertain.

Although high‐level evidence on implant survival and success in patients with neurodegenerative diseases is lacking, the limited available evidence offers promising indications of reasonably successful implant treatments in early‐stage cases. However, continuous monitoring of disease progression, oral health and denture management is crucial to retrofit the restoration when necessary.

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