A review assessing the quality of reporting of risk factor research in implant dentistry using smoking, diabetes and periodontitis and implant loss as an outcome: critical aspects in design and outcome assessment.

AIM

To assess, using a structured review, the quality of reporting (design and outcome assessment) of risk factor research using the STROBE statements. The outcome was implant loss, and the risk factors assessed were smoking, diabetes and periodontitis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Literature search was performed individually for each of the risk factors and the outcome using three sets of database: (a) MEDLINE, (b) references derived from relevant reviews and (c) references derived from identified manuscripts. Only case-control and cohort studies were included and assessed using the STROBE statements.

RESULTS

A total of 104 papers were retrieved, three of which were found to be cohort studies (one in the diabetes and two in the periodontitis review) and none was a case-control study. A total of 101 of 104 papers were case series or cross-sectional study.

CONCLUSIONS

Risk factor research in implant dentistry is mostly comprised of case series studies. These are used to generate hypotheses, but are the wrong tool to test these hypotheses. In the near future, well-designed observational studies are needed and should be reported according to the proposed checklist.