title: Clinical outcome of dental implants placed in liver transplant recipients after 3 years: a case series.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The use of dental implants in organ transplant patients remains controversial because of their altered wound healing and risk of serious infections. The aims of this study were to evaluate the long-term survival rate and related clincial parameters of dental implants among liver transplant patients on immunosuppressive medications.
  
  
  METHODS
  We placed 45 implants in 13 liver transplant patients. All implants were sucessfully placed in the mandible or maxilla. The success rate, perimplant bone absorption (MBL), probing depth and Periotest values were measured at 3 months, as well as 1 and 3 years.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At 3 years' follow-up, no implants were lost. MBL and Periotest values were within acceptable ranges without bleeding on probing or pathological probing depth.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This series supports the use of dental implants in liver transplant patients who are stable under long-term immunosuppression.
authors.affiliation: Department of Stomatology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gu
authors.forename: Y-C
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Yu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015921:Dental Implants; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016031:Liver Transplantation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate; D014945:Wound Healing
chemical_list: D015921:Dental Implants