JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Dental implants are a widely used therapeutic option for tooth replacement; however, biological and prosthetic complications may compromise implant success. While prior research has largely focused on academic or specialty settings, data on implant outcomes in community dental practices remain limited.

Objective:

This study aims to establish a national registry within the National Dental Practice-Based Research Network (PBRN) to evaluate the incidence and factors associated with biological and prosthetic complications following implant therapy in community practice settings.

Methods:

This prospective, observational cohort study will enroll approximately 1550 patients receiving implant restorations from 150 practitioners across six regional PBRN nodes. A total of 2,000 implant restorations will be longitudinally monitored over three years. Clinical, implant, and prosthetic characteristics will be recorded at baseline, with annual follow-up visits collecting data on complications, implant failures, prosthetic issues, and patient-reported outcomes. Digital radiographs will be centrally reviewed for peri-implant bone changes, emergence angle, and prosthetic fit. The primary outcome is the incidence of biological and prosthetic complications. Secondary analyses will evaluate patient-centered outcomes and identify risk factors for complications. Advanced statistical models, including multilevel mixed-effects regression and time-to-event analyses, will be employed to account for clustering and censored data.

Conclusions:

This registry will generate robust, real-world evidence on implant-related complications and their predictors in community practice. The findings will enhance clinical decision-making, support personalized risk assessment, and ultimately improve patient outcomes in implant dentistry.