Role of mechanical curettage with and without adjunct antimicrobial photodynamic therapy in the treatment of peri-implant mucositis in cigarette smokers: A randomized controlled clinical trial.

Objective: The aim of the present 12-weeks follow-up randomized clinical trial was to investigate the outcome of mechanical curettage (MC) with or without adjunct antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) in the treatment of peri-implant mucositis in cigarette smokers.

Methods: Therapeutically, subjects with peri-implant mucositis were divided into 2 groups: (a) Group-A: MC+aPDT; and (b) Group-B: MC alone (control group). In both groups, peri-implant plaque index (PI), bleeding on probing (BOP) and probing pocket depth (PPD) were gauged at baseline and after 12-weeks follow-up. Group comparisons were performed using the Kruskall-Wallis test. P-values less than 0.05 were considered statistically significant.

Results: Fifty-four male patients (28 in Group-A and 26 in Group-B) were included. The mean age of individuals in groups A and B were 50.6±0.8 and 52.2±0.5years, respectively. In groups A and B the participants were smoking 16.5±2.7 and 14.2±1.7 cigarettes daily since 25.2±6.5 and 24.6±4.3years, respectively. Periimplant PI, BOP and PPD were comparable among individuals in both groups at baseline. At 12-weeks follow-up, there was a significant reduction in PI (P<0.001) and PPD (P<0.001) among patients in groups A and B compared with their respective baseline values. At 12-weeks follow-up, PI (P<0.001) and PPD (P<0.001) were significantly higher among patients in Group-B compared with Group-A (P<0.001). BOP was comparable in both groups at baseline and at 12-weeks follow-up.

Conclusion: In cigarette smokers, MC with adjunct aPDT is more effective in the treatment of peri-implant mucositis compared with MC alone.