title: Vitamin D deficiency in early implant failure: two case reports.
abstract: An association between vitamin D deficiency and early dental implant failure is not properly verified, but its role in osteoimmunology is discussed. This article illustrates two case reports with vitamin D deficiency and early implant failure. Prior to implant placement, the first patient received crestal bone grafting with autologous material. Both patients received dental implants from different manufacturers in the molar region of the mandible. In the case of bone grafting in the first patient, all implants were placed in a two-stage procedure. All implants had to be removed within 15 days after implant placement. Vitamin D serum levels were measured: Both patients showed a vitamin D deficiency (serum vitamin D level <20 μg/l). After vitamin D supplementation, implant placement was successful in both patients. Prospective, randomized clinical trials must follow to affirm the relationship between vitamin D deficiency, osteoimmunology, and early implant failure.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral- and Craniomaxillofacial Surgery, Center for Dental Medicine, University Medical Center Freiburg, Hugstetter Straße 55, Freiburg, D-79106, Germany. tobias.fretwurst@uniklinik-freiburg.de.|Department of Periodontics and Oral Medicine, University of Michigan School of Dentistry, Ann Arbor, USA. tobias.fretwurst@uniklinik-freiburg.de.
authors.forename: Tobias
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4769-7610
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Fretwurst
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral- and Craniomaxillofacial Surgery, Center for Dental Medicine, University Medical Center Freiburg, Hugstetter Straße 55, Freiburg, D-79106, Germany.
authors.forename: Sebastian
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Grunert
authors.affiliation: Department of Operative Dentistry and Periodontology, Center for Dental Medicine, University Medical Center Freiburg, Hugstetter Straße 55, Freiburg, D-79106, Germany.
authors.forename: Johan P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Woelber
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral- and Craniomaxillofacial Surgery, Center for Dental Medicine, University Medical Center Freiburg, Hugstetter Straße 55, Freiburg, D-79106, Germany.
authors.forename: Katja
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nelson
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral- and Craniomaxillofacial Surgery, Center for Dental Medicine, University Medical Center Freiburg, Hugstetter Straße 55, Freiburg, D-79106, Germany.
authors.forename: Wiebke
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Semper-Hogg
keywords: Bone grafting; Cholecalciferol; Early implant failure; Early implant loss; Osseointegration; Osteoimmunology; Vitamin D deficiency