THE MICROBIOTA OF OSSEOINTEGRATED IMPLANTS IN PATIENTS WITH A HISTORYOF PERIODONTAL-DISEASE

The purpose of this study was to determine the presence of suspected p eriodontal pathogens in the peri-implant microflora of osseointegrated implants exposed 3 and 6 months to the oral environment of patients p reviously treated for periodontal disease. Subgingival microbial sampl es were taken in the deepest residual pocket of each quadrant in 10 pa tients before placement of ITI implants and in 10 patients before abut ment connection of Branemark implants. The samples were cultured using continuous anaerobic techniques. 4 patients were positive for P. ging ivalis, 13 for P. intermedia, 2 for A. actinomycetemcomitans, 16 for F usobacterium, 7 for C. rectus and 12 showed microscopic evidence of sp irochetes. After 3 and 6 months exposure of the implants to the oral e nvironment, one sample was obtained from the peri-implant sulcus in ea ch patient. P. gingivalis was found in 2 patients in the peri-implant samples after 3 and 6 months. 6 peri-implant samples were positive for P. intermedia after 3 months, 7 after 6 months. Fusobacterium was pre sent in 13 peri-implant samples after 3, and in 12 samples after 6 mon ths. 4 patients showed evidence of for C. rectus after 3 months, 2 aft er 6 months. Spirochetes were seen in 3 peri-implant samples after 3 a nd in 5 after 6 months. None of the implants were found to be colonize d by A. actinomycetemcomitans, although the organism was detected on t eeth in 1 individual. Similar distribution patterns were noted for ITI and Branemark type implants. In comparison to fully edentulous and pe riodontally healthy individuals, the patients of this study showed a h igh peri-implant prevalence of anaerobic putative periodontal pathogen s 3 to 6 months after exposure of the implants to the oral environment .