The American public has benefitted from dental implants for over 50 years. During that time, dental implants have become more affordable with better options – for instance, many more dental insurance companies cover dental implants or assist with the cost. Current success rates with dental implants reliably stay above 90 to 95 percent. Organizations like the American Dental Association (ADA) and the Mayo Clinic put forth great effort to get that success rate even higher. One report identifies a possible link with unsuccessful dental implants and a drug called sertraline.
Dental Data on Sertraline
Also known as Zoloft, sertraline is an antidepressant in a class of medications called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI). They inhibit the reabsorption of serotonin in the brain (serotonin is one of the chemical messengers between nerve cells). This helps to ease symptoms of depression, and it may also be used to treat conditions like anxiety disorders.
At first, researchers conducted a study from 1983 to 2014, and the results showed no significant association between dental implant procedures and SSRI medication use. However, this was a blanket study, and did not focus on SSRI medications individually. Another study from 1995 to 2014 followed up on over 5,000 patients who received dental implants. In this study, they divided SSRI use into 6 groups of medications, sertraline being one of the groups. Of the 6 medications, only sertraline was associated with a higher risk of experiencing dental implant failure. The findings also indicated that a patient’s use of multiple SSRI medications further increases risk of implant failure. It’s important to note that over 90% of the patients had successful dental implants with no issues – 4,927 in total. This study focused on the issues reported by 529 patients, to help identify any similarities with their cases and better understand why dental implant failures might happen.
Can I Get a Dental Implant If I Take Sertraline?
Dental implants are a beneficial option to replace missing or damaged teeth. Restoring dental functionality gives patients greater confidence in their smile and oral functions. It’s vital, however, to discuss your medical health and any medications you take with your Placerville dentists. We want your dental implant procedure to be 100% successful, with no complications. By discussing your medical situations and medications, we work with you – and even your medical practitioner – to eliminate any possible complications.
To find out more on dental implants, feel free to ask the Placerville Dental Group. You can review much of the information here on our website. You can also call our office, schedule a visit with our online form, or bring up the subject during your next checkup with the Placerville Dental Group. We work with you to make sure you get the dental help you need safely.
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