Abstract
The primary objective of this study was to examine the changes in peri-implant sulcus depth (PISD) and bacterial activity levels in subgingival plaque for over a year. The activity of periodontopathic bacteria was determined by means of the Periocheck diagnostic (PCD) test. A total of 56 patients who had undergone endosseous implant surgery 2 to 22 years before participated in this study. The subjects consisted of 22 males (mean age:66.1±9.0 years) and 34 females (mean age:59.4±10.3 years). The number of participants in the current trial accounted for 74.7% of the number of those in the initial trial, which was carried out one year earlier. There was no significant difference in the rates between males and females who participated in the trial one year after.
PISDa was observed in 87.5%of the subjects. Nevertheless, PCD0 showed a similar distribution to that of PCDb. This tendency was noted both in the initial trial and the trial performed one year after. As for the sub-factors, significant differences were observed only in the mean PISD values. Namely, the mean PISD value was 0.68 mm smaller in stage III than in stage I; 0.51 mm smaller in Rounded (R) type than in Square(S) type; and 0.95 mm smaller in HA-coated implant than in Bioceram implant (Al2O3). Some difference was also observed between the results of the two trials.
In conclusion, the results of PISD evaluation did not necessarily agree with those of the PCD test.Moreover, a slight change was found in the results between the two trials, suggesting that a follow-up study should be made.
