The peri-implant health in patients attending an annual recall program. A clinical and microbiological study in 74 patients from the Tübingen Implant Registry.

Objectives: To describe the peri-implant condition of unselected implant recall patients, to relate it to relevant features from the patient medical history, and to look at associations across these findings.

Patients And Methods: Prior to their most recent recall appointment, 74 individuals underwent a clinical and microbiological (PCR) investigation.

Results: Signs of a serious peri-implantitis condition were not encountered in this patient cohort. However, a high prevalence of moderate plaque and bleeding on probing (60% and 78%, respectively) and PCR proof of periodonto-pathogenic bacteria (43% positive for one or more target species) was apparent. The mean pocket probing depth was 2.9 mm. The by far most prominent co-morbidity belonged to the group of patients with cardiovascular diseases (CVD; 27%). CVD were statistically significantly associated with the prevalence and concentration of Prevotella intermedia in the peri-implant sulcus (P = 0.022). Age was positively associated with plaque load (P < 0.001). The Tanerella forsythensis score and prevalence was higher in implants supporting fixed than removable restorations (P = 0.025). Four of the five bacteria species assessed showed a high association with each other (exception: Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans), but not to other hygiene findings.

Conclusions: A considerable number of individuals exhibited peri-implant findings that would require anti-infective treatment. Prevalence and concentrations of periodonto-pathogenic bacteria seemed to be associated with a variety of other variables from the patients' history, but not to clinical findings in this patient group.