Introduction: Occlusal overload is considered to be one of the causes of late implant failure. However, it is unclear whether the magnitude of the patient's occlusal force is a risk factor for late implant failure.
Purpose: This case-control study aimed to clarify the association between the cross-sectional area (CSA) of the masseter muscle and late implant failure.
Methods: This case-control study was limited to implant-supported fixed prostheses. We compared cases with at least one late implant failure (n = 25 patients) to controls (n = 82 patients) without implant failure. Patients were matched by age, sex, year of surgery, jaw and tooth type, and bone graft. Log-rank and Cox proportional hazard regression analyses were used to identify possible risk factors for late implant failure.
Results: The incidence of late implant failure was significantly associated with masseter muscle CSA ≥504.5 mm2 (hazard ratio: 4.43; 95% CI: 1.82-10.79; p < 0.01).
Conclusion: Higher masseter muscle CSA increases the risk of late implant failure.
Keywords: case-control study; implant survival; late implant failure; masseter muscle; occlusal force.
© 2023 Wiley Periodicals LLC.