Composition of supra- and subgingival biofilm of subjects with healthy and diseased implants

Shibli, Jamil A.
Melo, Leandro
Ferrari, Daniel S.
Figueiredo, Luciene C.
Faveri, Marcelo
Feres, Magda

Department of Periodontology, Dental Research Division, Guarulhos University, São Paulo, Brazil

Correspondence to:Prof. Magda Feres Centro de Pós-Graduação, Pesquisa e Extensão-CEPPE Universidade Guarulhos R. Dr Nilo Peçanha, 81 Prédio U −6°, Andar 07011-040 Guarulhos SP, Brazil Tel.:+55 11 6464 1769 Fax:+55 11 6464 1758 e-mail: [email protected]

To cite this article: Shibli JA, Melo L, Ferrari DS, Figueiredo LC, Faveri M, Feres M. Composition of supra- and subgingival biofilm of subjects with healthy and diseased implants.

Acknowledgements: This study was supported by Grant #s 03/05023-7 and 05/01939-2 from The State of São Paulo Research Foundation, SP, Brazil (FAPESP) and Grant #301527/2006-7 from The National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq), DF, Brazil.

Date: Accepted 28 December 2007

Clinical Oral Implants Research 19(10):p 975-982, October 2008.

Objectives

The purpose of this study was to compare the microbial composition of supra- and subgingival biofilm in subjects with and without peri-implantitis.

Material and methods

Forty-four subjects (mean age 48.9 ± 13.51 years) with at least one implant restored and functional for at least 2 years were assigned to two groups: a peri-implantitis group (n=22), consisting of subjects presenting peri-implant sites with radiographic defects >3 mm, bleeding on probing and/or suppuration; and a control group (n=22), consisting of subjects with healthy implants. The clinical parameters evaluated were plaque index, gingival bleeding, bleeding on probing, suppuration, probing depth and clinical attachment level. Supra- and subgingival biofilm samples were taken from the deepest sites of each implant and analyzed for the presence of 36 microorganisms by checkerboard DNA–DNA hybridization.

Results

Higher mean counts of Porphyromonas gingivalis, Treponema denticola and Tannerella forsythia were observed in the peri-implantitis group, both supra- and subgingivally (P<0.05). The proportions of the pathogens from the red complex were elevated, while host-compatible beneficial microbial complexes were reduced in diseased compared with healthy implants. The microbiological profiles of supra- and subgingival environments did not differ substantially within each group.

Conclusion

Marked differences were observed in the composition of supra- and subgingival biofilm between healthy and diseased implants. The microbiota associated with peri-implantitis was comprised of more periodontal pathogenic bacterial species, including the supragingival biofilm.