Microbiological and aMMP-8 findings depending on peri-implant disease in patients undergoing supportive implant therapy

The aim of this study was to evaluate microbiological findings and aMMP-8 level of peri-implant mucositis (M) and peri-implantitis (P) in patients undergoing supportive implant therapy (SIT). Eighty-nine patients with 171 implants were included. The case definitions were as follows: M: PPD ≥4mm, BOP; P: PPD≥4mm, BOP, radiographic bone loss ≥3.5mm. Samples of peri-implant sulcular fluid (PISF) were taken from all peri-implant pockets at each implant to detect periodontal pathogens using PCR and aMMP-8 level with ELISA. Only Treponema denticola (Td) and Prevotella intermedia (Pi) showed significantly higher prevalence in P (healthy implants [HI]: Td=27%, Pi=17%; M: Td=26%, Pi=15%; P: Td and Pi=50%; P0.05). The mean aMMP-8 level at implant sites did not show any significant difference (P=0.05) among HI (5.2±8.1), M (9.9±19.0), and P (4.9±7.7). Microbiological findings and aMMP-8 levels are not reliable criteria to distinguish between HI, M, and P in patients undergoing SIT.