Background: Limited information is available on the influence
of timing of implant placement after tooth extraction on the
marginal peri-implant conditions in the long-term.
Aim/Hypothesis: To report on the marginal peri-implant soft
and hard tissue levels, including prevalence of peri-implant
mucositis and peri-implantitis, 10 years after early (Ea),
delayed (De), or late (La) implant placement.
Material and methods: 64 patients, previously randomly allocated,
received a single-tooth implant (Osseotite, 3i Biomet)
on average 10 days (Ea: 23), 3 months (De: 22), or 12 months
(La: 19) after tooth extraction. Second stage surgery was performed
after 3–4 months and porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns
were cemented on the implants after one additional month
(TC). All patients were recalled for a clinical and radiographic
examination approximately one (T1) and 10 years
(T10) after implant installation. Marginal peri-implant bone
levels (BL) were measured on orthogonal periapical radiographs
at TC, T1, and T10. Differences among the implant
placement protocols were tested by Anova and chi-square
tests.
Results: At T10, clinical and radiographic data were available
from 49 and 48 patients, respectively; 47 patients attended all
controls, while radiographic data from all visits were available
for 39 patients. Proximal BL for all implants was located at
1.39 0.65 mm, 1.32 0.63 mm, and 1.38 0.98 mm apically
to the implant shoulder, at TC, T1, and T10, respectively.
No significant differences in proximal BL were found
among the groups at TC and T10. At T1, BL was located more
apically at De implants (1.71 mm) compared to Ea and La
implants (1.09 and 0.99 mm, respectively) (P = 0.002). No significant
differences in BL were found between TC and T10 or
between T1 and T10 both regarding all implants and within
each group. 55% and 47% of the implants showed at least one
site with a probing depth (PD) ≥5 mm at TC and T1, respectively.
At T10, 70% of the implants showed bleeding or pus
on probing (BoP) and 36% of the implants showed one or more
sites with PD ≥5 mm; no significant differences among the
groups were seen. At T10, only two implants (De and La)
(4.3%) suffered from peri-implantitis defined as PD ≥5 mm,
BoP, and marginal bone loss of >1 mm from TC.
Conclusions and clinical implications: Timing of implant placement
after tooth extraction did not significantly influence the
marginal peri-implant soft and hard tissue levels in the longterm.
Peri-implant mucositis was a frequent finding, while
peri-implantitis was only scarce. This study was partially supported
by 3i Biomet, FL, USA.
John Wiley & Sons, 2013. Vol. 24, no s9, p. 38-38, article id 87