A systematic review and meta-analysis of pre-clinical studies assessing the effect of nicotine on osseointegration

Nicotine has been associated with vasoconstriction and an impaired cellular healing response. It is therefore likely that nicotine jeopardizes osseointegration. This systematic review and meta-analysis was performed to assess pre-clinical studies on the effect of nicotine on implant osseointegration. Databases were searched up to and including March 2016 for animal/non-human studies using the following Keywords: bone to implant contact; implant; nicotine; osseointegration; bone healing; and new bone formation. In total eight in vivo design studies were included and processed for data extraction. Five studies reported no significant influence of nicotine on healing around implants. Quantitative analysis of the effects of nicotine on the osseointegration of dental implants showed a significant difference in bone-to-implant contact between test and control subjects (Z = −2.49; P = 0.014). From the studies included in the present review; it appears that nicotine has an effect on implant osseointegration.