Supportive periodontal therapy affects dental implants' probing pocket depth, bleeding on probing, and bone level: A 4- To 8-year follow-up study

Objective: To evaluate implant and patient characteristics 4 to 8 years after implant installation in a study involving immediate fixed restoration of dental implants. Method and materials: The study was a follow-up of treated generalized chronic periodonti tis patients who received immediate restorations on dental im plants as part of a previous study. The patients were examined clinically and radiographically at implant placement, 6 months, 1 year, and 4 to 8 years later. Supportive periodontal therapy (SPT), teeth and implant probing pocket depth (TPPD and IPPD), bleeding on probing (BOP [teeth, TBOP; implant, IBOP]), and bone level (BL) measurements around implants were documented. Cases were divided into three groups according to annual SPT rate: 0.00 to 0.99/year (SPT0), 1.00 to 1.99/year (SPT1), 2.00 or more/year (SPT2). Results: Twelve patients, with 26 implants and 242 teeth, were included. The mean ± standard deviation fol low-up period was 6.08 ± 1.25 years (range 4.04 to 7.94 years). All implants in the follow-up group were osseointegrated and sur vived during the follow-up period. The mean number of SPT ap pointments was 6.17 ± 5.65. A weak negative correlation was found between SPT rate and ΔTPPD (−0.24, P =.0005), whereas a strong negative correlation was found between SPT rate and ΔIPPD (−0.76, P =.0005). Negative correlations were found be tween SPT rate and ΔTBOP (−0.20, P =.003), and between SPT rate and ΔIBOP (−0.5, P =.009). A moderate correlation was found between SPT rate and ΔBL (0.46, P =.02). Conclusion: SPT has a significant positive effect on PPD, BOP, and on implant BLs in long-term follow-up and should be an essential part of implant therapy.