Purpose: The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to analyze the risk of dental
implant failure for patients who had a history of anti-depressant use. Materials and methods: An
electronic search was performed up to June 2023 in three databases, including
PubMed/MEDLINE, Web of Science and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials with
data on comparison of implant failure rate for patients with and without the use of antidepressants
were included. Meta-analyses for the risk ratio of implant failure rate at the patient
level and implant level were performed. Results: Eleven clinical studies were selected for
inclusion in this review. The meta-analyses showed a risk ratio of 2.44 (95% confidence
interval= 1.75 to 3.39, p< 0.0001) and 2.44 (95% CI= 1.73 to 3.46, p< 0.0001) for the implant
failure at the patient level and implant level, respectively. The comparisons presented a low
heterogeneity for the patient-level analysis and a moderate heterogeneity for the implant-level
analysis among the pooled studies. Subgroup analyses also revealed that patients who received
only selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) or SSRIs with other type of anti-depressants
had a higher risk of implant failure than those who were not on any anti-depressants.
Conclusions: The current review demonstrates the use of anti-depressants, such as SSRIs, may
increase the risk of dental implant failure at both patient level and implant level. Although
limited evidence suggests that a certain type of SSRI (sertraline) may have more influence on
implant failure than other SSRIs, future studies are needed to warrant this finding.
Keywords: dental implants, antidepressive agents, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, systematic review