Peri-implant status in partially edentulous individuals subjected to dental implant rehabilitation

Objective: Oral rehabilitation with dental implants has become a daily routine in dental clinics. However, peri-implant diseases can affect the tissues around dental implants over time. The aim of this study was to evaluate peri-implant health status in partially edentulous individuals rehabilitated with dental implants in comparison with either periodontally healthy individuals or those with periodontitis. Methods: Study participants were subjected to anamnestic questionnaires and full periodontal/ peri-implant examination. Twenty-five dental implant carriers (45% women; mean age, 57.2 years), 35 periodontally healthy individuals (28.6% women; mean age, 24.1 years), and 25 subjects with periodontitis (20% women; mean age, 47.5 years) were included. Those in the healthy and periodontitis groups had no dental implants. Significant differences were analyzed by Wilcoxon, Chi-square, and Kruskal-Wallis tests. Results: The dental implant carriers had an average of 3.9 implants with an average time of 5.1 years since insertion. Peri-implant disease was detected in 75% of individuals in the Dental Implant Carriers group (70% had peri-implant mucositis). Dental implants presented probing depths and clinical attachment levels significantly higher when compared with those of unaffected teeth from the same individuals (pd”0.004), or with teeth from periodontally healthy individuals (p<0.0001). Although implants presented less dental biofilm, they presented higher percentages of bleeding on probing compared with unaffected teeth in the same individuals (p=0.002) and with teeth in periodontally healthy individuals (p<0.0001). The population studied had a relatively high prevalence of peri-implant disease. Conclusion: It is possible to verify that the clinical characteristics of the peri-implant tissues resembled those of individuals with periodontitis.