Introduction: The literature relating dental implant success to general health, medications in relation to bone metabolism, and xerostomia was reviewed. The minimal data in relation to prescription medications and implant success shows no consensus. In addition, consensus reports have called for patient centred outcomes to be evaluated. Aims: To analyse both the effect of prescription medications on the survival of dental implants, and patients' perception of maxillary implant reconstructions. Materials and methods: This study was undertaken to review bone loss around machined surface Bränemark implants placed in the maxillae of elderly patients in relation to medications. A retrospective analysis of maxillary implant reconstructions at Sydney Dental Hospital (n=35, ages 37-70 at implant placement, 20M: 15F) was performed 11-19 years after implant placement. Initial clinicians were 3 oral surgeons and a prosthodontist. Bone loss relative to implant threads was assessed from radiographs at 1 year, then 5, 10 +/- 1 years, in comparison with baseline levels at implant placement. Medication histories, prosthesis type, opposing dentition, smoking and oral hygiene status were determined. Implants were categorised as successful, surviving, lost or unknown (Albrektsson and Zarb, 1993). Correlations between medication histories and bone loss were assessed. Patients' perception of their treatment was assessed by their responses to 13 statements in a questionnaire and verified by marking of a visual analogue scale (VAS) in which 0 indicated ‘total discontent' and 100 ‘total satisfaction' in relation to these statements. Results: The literature confirmed that commonly prescribed medications may act synergistically in causation of xerostomia, despite there not being a known physiological basis. Conclusion: This study supports the findings of Smith et al 1992, in finding an absence of correlation between medications and implant loss.

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