Peri-implant characteristics may reveal dental implant health, disease onset

Researchers have examined the factors that may be predictive of dental implant health.

In a cross-sectional study published in the Journal of Clinical Periodontology, the researchers used a manual periodontal probe or digital caliper to analyze aspects of the peri-implant phenotype — including keratinized mucosa width, mucosal thickness, attached mucosa and vestibulum depth. They then sought to determine the relationship between certain peri-implant characteristics and the incidence of peri-implantitis and peri-implant soft-tissue dehiscence among 324 implants in 112 patients.

The researchers determined that the absence of keratinized mucosa width and attached mucosa as well as a reduced vestibulum depth were all linked to peri-implantitis; whereas keratinized mucosa width and thin mucosa in addition to a reduced vestibulum depth were linked to peri-implant soft-tissue dehiscence. Further, dysregulated inflammatory markers in the peri-implant crevicular fluid and upregulated soft-tissue remodeling were identified at sites lacking keratinized mucosa width.

The findings indicated that peri-implant phenotype may aid clinicians in assessing the health of dental implants. However, larger prospective studies are needed to better understand the implications of the study.

Read more: Journal of Clinical Periodontology

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