Clinical and microbiological status of osseointegrated implants

Longitudinal study of dental implants in a periodontally compromised population

BACKGROUND

The purpose of this longitudinal study was to determine the clinical status and the composition of the subgingival microbiota of dental implants and natural teeth in patients with a history of periodontitis.

METHODS

Twenty-five partially edentulous patients treated for moderate to advanced adult periodontitis and having a total of 42 implants participated in this 3-year study. The assessment of clinical status was done 1, 2, and 3 years after prosthetic loading (T1, T2, and T3, respectively). Clinical parameters evaluated included probing depth (PD), clinical attachment level (CAL), gingival index (GI), and plaque index (PI). The subgingival microbiota at peri-implant and periodontal sites were analyzed at T1 and T2.

RESULTS

No significant difference in clinical parameters between implants and teeth and within the 2 groups between different time points was observed through the study. PD and CAL measurements of sampled periodontal and peri-implant sites did not show any statistically significant difference through the study and between the 2 groups. PI of sampled periodontal sites showed a statistically significant improvement during the study. From the morphological observation of the subgingival microbiota, a significant difference in the composition of motile rods between implants and teeth was found at T1. There were no differences detected in the subgingival microbiota, culturally identified at peri-implant and periodontal sites for the duration of the study.

CONCLUSIONS

In conclusion, implants were colonized by the indigenous periodontal microbiota and were well maintained in patients with a history of periodontitis. No significant association between progressing or non-progressing periodontal or peri-implant sampled sites in terms of loss of attachment and infection with at least one of the searched periodontal pathogens was found, suggesting that the presence of putative periodontopathogens at peri-implant and periodontal sites may not be associated with future attachment loss or implant failure.

Comparative microbiological characteristics of failing implants and periodontally diseased teeth

BACKGROUND

The purpose of this report was to compare the distribution of periodontal pathogens recovered from failing implants and teeth with adult and recurrent forms of periodontitis.

METHODS

A total of 41 consecutive microbial samples from patients with failing implants (IMP) were received at the Microbiology Testing Laboratory (MTL) of the University of Pennsylvania over a 2-year period. Paired control samples were selected from samples received concurrently by MTL from 41 patients with a diagnosis of adult periodontitis (AP) and 41 with a diagnosis of recurrent or refractory periodontitis (RP). Patients' mean ages for the 3 categories were 59, 47, and 53 years, respectively. Samples were collected with paper points or scalers and shipped in prereduced medium by express mail to the laboratory where they were processed within 48 hours from the time of collection. Culture was used for detection of A. actinomycetemcomitans, C. rectus, P. intermedia/nigrescens, E. corrodens, P. micros, Capnocytophaga and Fusobacterium sp., enteric Gram-negative rods, Enterococcus and Staphylococcus sp., and yeast. P. gingivalis and B. forsythus were detected by indirect immunofluorescence. Morphotypes were enumerated by dark-field microscopy.

RESULTS

The most frequently detected microorganisms from IMP were B. forsythus (59%), spirochetes (54%), Fusobacterium (41%), P. micros (39%), and P. gingivalis (27%). Recovery levels (mean +/- SD) were 1+/-1, 4+/-5, 4+/-5, 9+/-11, 1+/-2, respectively. The most frequently detected organisms for AP were B. forsythus (83%), Fusobacterium (80%), spirochetes (79%), P. gingivalis (59%), P. micros (51%), and E. corrodens (37%), at levels 2+/-2, 5+/-4, 9+/-6, 4+/-5, and 6+/-7, respectively. Corresponding data for RP were B. forsythus (85%), Fusobacterium (83%), P. gingivalis (60%), spirochetes (59%), C. rectus (56%), and P. micros (56%), at levels of 3+/-2, 8+/-8, 4+/-4, 2+/-2, 1+/-1, and 9+/-10, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

These results indicate that the detection frequency and levels of recovery of some periodontal pathogens in failing implants are significantly different from that of teeth with periodontitis; however, the detection frequency and levels of recovery are similar in teeth affected by adult and refractory (recurrent) forms of periodontitis.

The soft tissue response to osseointegrated dental implants

The use of dental implants in the treatment of fully edentulous patients has become an important addition in oral/dental rehabilitation. The fact that these implants penetrate the oral mucosa can lead to the assumption that peri-implant tissues, similar to the periodontal tissues, are fulfilling an important function as a barrier to protect the bony anchorage underneath. It has been shown that insufficient plaque removal may lead to peri-implant tissue disease with bone loss similar to teeth. However, it is unclear how important this cause is as a source of implant failure compared with other factors, such as inadequate bone healing, unfavorable quantity and quality of bone, or (bio)mechanical and functional problems. It is also not understood if peri-implant epithelium and connective tissue are equally needed and/or qualified to slow down or prevent tissue breakdown as their periodontal counterparts. The scientific work focusing on peri-implant soft tissues has dramatically increased in the past few years. Most studies to date have examined and described their structure but little data exist on their true biologic function. This review analyzes the current understanding of morphologic and clinical features of the peri-implant soft tissues. Furthermore, evidence shall be provided that peri-implant soft tissues do not interfere with the current favorable results obtained when treating the edentulous patient with osseointegrated implants.

The influence of 0.12% chlorhexidine digluconate rinses on the incidence of infectious complications and implant success

The effect of perioperative chlorhexidine on the frequency of infectious complications through stage II was examined. Chlorhexidine was used perioperatively in 54.6% of patients (52.5% of implants) in a Dental Implant Clinical Research Group study with a database of 2,641 implants (595 patients). With chlorhexidine, there was a significant reduction in the number of infectious complications (4.1% vs 8.7%). Two percent of implants failed in the absence of an infectious complication, whereas 12% with infectious complications failed. This sixfold difference is highly significant. Chlorhexidine may reduce microbial complications when used in the immediate perioperative period.

Clinical trials of endosseous implants: issues in analysis and interpretation

The majority of contemporary endosseous dental implant systems are based on designs and materials that, over the last three decades, have proved to be predictably reliable. With proper surgical and prosthetic protocols, rates of implant loss have been held to 15% or less over a 5-year period. This information was obtained largely through longitudinal descriptive studies, primarily aimed at obtaining implant survival rates under ideal clinical conditions, with strict inclusion and exclusion criteria for admitting patients into the studies. It is important to emphasize that under conditions of routine clinical practice, where patient selection may be more relaxed than in clinical trials and clinicians attempt to stretch the limits of current technology, the survival rates may not necessarily match those reported in the literature. Since "surviving" implants may exhibit characteristics likely to lead to eventual loss of the implant, for example severe osseous defects, such implants may not necessarily be considered successful. Successful implants should fulfill a list of other criteria considered essential for long-term survival. Differences in implant design preclude some of these criteria from being uniformly applied to all systems. There is a need to identify criteria for success that can be applied to the majority of implant systems. Implants that fail to meet these criteria should be considered failures. Since failure rates may include "failed" as well as "failing" ("ailing") implants, the two categories should be listed separately. From a practical standpoint, implant failures can be grouped into "early" failures, primarily the result of surgical and/or postoperative complications, and "late" failures that arise during and following the restorative phase. The ability of individual systems to achieve excellent success rates, despite some major differences in their design from other systems, suggests that some requirements, initially considered essential for success, may not be as critical as originally believed. Examples include the need for submerging implants during initial wound healing or the need for stress breaking devices. On the other hand, a basic requirement for implant success, such as primary stability at the time of insertion and following loading of the implant, may be the unifying principle behind the need for adequate bone volume and density, longer or wider implants, and the 3 to 6-month delay recommended before implants are placed in function. With relatively low failure rates, a large number of patients may have to be included in long-term clinical trials before a statistically significant association can be established between failure rates and potential contributing factors. For the same reasons, and to avoid type 2 errors, large populations may be needed to show that two systems have comparable success rates. Proving the superiority of one system over another may require fewer subjects. Given the overall low failure rate and the tendency of failures to cluster in individual subjects, failure rates could be markedly affected by the attrition of a few critical subjects. Additional research is needed to validate methods in current use for the clinical determination of osseointegration, and the diagnosis and treatment of occlusal trauma and microbial infections around implants. Also, more reliable methods are needed for the identification of the primary cause(s) of implant morbidity; i.e., infection or occlusal factors.

Periodontal bacteria colonizing oral mucous membranes in edentulous patients wearing dental implants

The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence of the microbiota on the oral mucosal surfaces and in the peri-implant pocket in edentulous subjects with a past history of periodontitis. Twenty edentulous subjects wearing dental implants for at least one year and with a history of periodontitis participated in this study. Clinical parameters were assessed (plaque, redness, swelling, peri-implant probing depth [PIPD], and bleeding on probing) and microbiological samples were taken (oral mucosal surfaces, saliva, plaque, and peri-implant pocket). Based on the clinical results, the group as a whole showed healthy peri-implant tissues. A mean PIPD of 3.6 mm was found. A statistically significant correlation was found between the PIPD and bleeding upon probing, plaque scores, redness, and swelling. Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans and Porphyromonas gingivalis were not detected. The subjects harboring Prevotella intermedia showed presence of PIPD of > or = 5 mm. All subjects harbored Peptostreptococcus spp., Fusobacterium spp., and other Prevotella species. Actinomyces odontolyticus, Bacteroides forsythus, Campylobacter rectus, Pseudomonas spp., and enterobacteria were detected less frequently. Three subjects showed signs of overt soft tissue inflammation. They harbored higher proportions of Peptostreptococcus spp. than the other subjects. The results corroborate the suggestion that the primary source of colonization for dental implants in edentulous patients are the oral mucous membranes. The results indicate that the microbiota of subjects wearing dental implants with a past history of periodontitis are composed of bacteria associated with a healthy periodontium or gingivitis. It is suggested that elimination of the subgingival environment by extraction of all natural teeth probably initiates the disappearance of the two periodontal bacteria A. actinomycetemcomitans and P. gingivalis.

Lipopolysaccharide affinity for titanium implant biomaterials

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) affinity for titanium implant biomaterials could affect crevicular LPS concentrations and thereby influence periimplant inflammation.

PURPOSE OF STUDY

The purpose of this study was to evaluate Porphyromonas gingivalis and Escherichia coli LPS affinity for titanium biomaterials groups that differed in surface oxide composition and surface roughness.

MATERIAL AND METHOD

Polished and abraded grade 1 commercially pure titanium and grade 5 alloyed extra low interstitial titanium specimens were treated with 10 EU/mm2 and radiolabeled LPS.

RESULTS

The resultant mean +/- SD LPS adherence values ranged from 4.17 +/- 0.29 to 4.79 +/- 0.40 EU/ mm2. No difference in adherence and elution was indicated on the basis of LPS type, surface oxide composition, or surface roughness. Moreover, P. gingivalis and F. coli LPS desorption was below detection.

CONCLUSION

Clinically, the high affinity of both LPS types for titanium biomaterials may adversely influence the periimplant tissue response.

Periodontitis vs. peri-implantitis: the same disease? The same treatment?

The microbial flora in the natural dentition sulcus/pocket and the implant crevice/pocket is very similar in both health and disease. In health, coccal forms predominate, and in disease, large numbers of Gram-negative pathogens are associated with both tooth and implant. It has also been demonstrated that the bacteria in the partially edentulous implant case may be more pathogenic (especially Gram-negative rods and spirochetes) than in the fully edentulous case, indicating a possible seeding mechanism from tooth pocket to implant crevice. Detoxification procedures involving the use of tetracycline and citric acid prior to regenerative procedures with the use of barrier membranes and grafting materials are necessary, and the same problems attendant to premature exposure of the barrier membrane(s) in the natural dentition situation apply to the implant case. It is apparent that periodontitis = peri-implantitis in etiology and therapy.

Characterization of inhibitory effects of suspected periodontopathogens on osteogenesis in vitro

By using an in vitro bone-forming culture system, the chick periosteal osteogenesis (CPO) model, the direct effects on osteogenesis of sonicated extracts derived from oral bacteria were examined. Both extracts from bacterial species having strong associations with periodontal diseases (Porphyromonas gingivalis, Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans, and Prevotella intermedia, hereinafter referred to as suspected periodontopathogens) and extracts from species not correlated with periodontal disease (Streptococcus sanguis, Veillonella atypica, and Prevotella denticola, hereinafter referred to as nonpathogenic bacteria) were tested. All bacterial cultures were grown under standard anaerobic culture conditions. Sonicated bacterial extracts were prepared from the bacterial pellet. These were added in various proportions to the CPO cultures. Parameters of osteogenesis, including alkaline phosphatase activity, calcium and P(i) accumulation, and collagen synthesis, were measured in 6-day-old cultures. Compared with controls grown in the absence of bacterial products, osteogenesis was inhibited significantly in cultures treated with extracts derived from the suspected periodontopathogens. No osteogenic inhibition was observed in cultures treated with extracts from the nonpathogenic bacteria. These results suggest that the ability to inhibit osteogenesis in vitro may be a pathogenic property shared by a limited group of species. Further characterization of the P. gingivalis extracts revealed that both proteinaceous and nonproteinaceous products, including lipopolysaccharide, were able to inhibit osteogenesis. P. gingivalis extract-mediated inhibition of osteogenesis in CPO cultures was blocked by indomethacin, implicating prostaglandins in the regulation of the bacterial effects. The bacterial extracts had either reversible or irreversible inhibitory effects on osteogenesis when added after differentiation or before/during differentiation of bone cells, respectively.