Abstract
The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships between peri-implant sulcus depth (PISD) variations, results of a Periocheck diagnosis (PCD) test for activity of periodontopathic bacteria in subgingival plaque around peri-implant sulcus and four major factors (i.e., implant placement time, implant cervical form, fixture material and pontic design) of fixed implant prostheses.
Those who participated in this study were a total of 75 patients-31 men (mean age:64.6±8.8 yrs) and 44 women(mean age:58.3±10.2 yrs). All the patients had undergone implant surgery 1 to 17 years before.
In 85.3% of the 75 subjects, peri-implant sulcus depths measured 2 mm or less, which was categorized as PISDa. Nevertheless, the PCD evaluations were divided into negative and positive reactions,and the results of the Periocheck diagnostic test did not correlate with the PISD evaluation.
When the relationships between PISD distributions and four major factors in fixed prostheses were examined, closed type pontic devices were predominant in those subjects whose peri-implant sulcus depths came under the category of PISD3.Three other types made up significantly (p＜0.05) larger percentages in the subjects with PISDa.
Among the sub-factors, the mean PISD value and mean PCD value in the wearers of the rounded(R) cervical type device were 0.51 mm and 0.60 smaller than those in the wearers of the squared(S) cervical type device. The differences were thought to be statistically significant (p＜0.05). The mean PISD value for the sanitary-type pontic devices was also smaller than those for the closed as well as intermediate type devices by a significant 1.76 mm and 0.89 mm, respectively.
From these results, we concluded that closer observation would be necessary as far as the sites where the PISD values are less than 2 mm and their PCD values are positive are concerned.
