Tissue reactions, fluids, and bacterial infiltration in implants retrievedat autopsy: A case report

A 72-year-old patient underwent the placement of 2 screw-type implants. Aft er 5 months the patient died of a massive stroke, and a bloch section of th e portion of the mandible containing the implants was done. The specimen wa s treated to obtain thin ground sections, A 1- to 5-mu m gap was present be tween the implant and the healing cover screw, and this space was filled by bacteria and calculus; bacteria were also present in the most apical porti on of the hollow part of the implant. An inflammatory infiltrate was presen t in the connective peri-implant tissues, The spaces between all implant co mponents (implant, abutment, and healing screw) can act as conduits and res ervoirs for bacteria, which could cause inflammation of the peri-implant so ft tissues. In conclusion, the histologic data from this autopsy case may h elp to confirm the penetration by fluids and bacteria into the internal por tion of the implants, obtained from previous in vitro and in vivo studies.