MICROBIOLOGY OF LIGATURE-INDUCED MARGINAL INFLAMMATION AROUND OSSEOINTEGRATED IMPLANTS AND ANKYLOSED TEETH IN CYNOMOLGUS MONKEYS (MACACA-FASCICULARIS)

The microbiota associated with ligature-induced marginal inflammation around osseointegrated dental implants, ankylosed teeth, and normal co ntrol teeth was investigated in 8 cynomolgus monkeys (Macaca fascicula ris). Submucosal/subgingival plaque was sampled with paper points on t he day of ligature placement and after 7 weeks. The samples were evalu ated by phase-contrast microscopy and by cultivation on enriched non-s elective and various selective solid media. The submucosal/subgingival flora was changed 7 weeks after ligation. The total number of cultiva ble bacteria and the proportions of motile rods, anaerobic Gram-negati ve rods, black-pigmented rods, Porphyromonas gingivalis, and Prevotell a intermedia increased significantly around implants, ankylosed teeth, and normal control teeth. Except for a significantly higher proportio n of anaerobic Gram-positive cocci around implants compared to ankylos ed teeth and normal control teeth at the end of the study, no signific ant microbiological differences were observed between implants, ankylo sed teeth, and normal control teeth neither at baseline nor at the end of the study. Consequently, the microbiota associated with marginal i nflammation around implants, ankylosed teeth, and normal control teeth appears to be rather similar in cynomolgus monkeys.