Incidence of Bleeding on Probing as an Indicator of Peri-Implant Disease Progression

Screening/Baseline/Maintenance Visit 1 (V1) After participants have consented, their health history will be reviewed, and their vitals including blood pressure and heart rate will be recorded. A dental exam of the teeth and gums will be completed. During this exam, a UNC 15 periodontal probe will be used to perform the clinical assessments. Intraoral photographs will be taken. An x-ray of the implant(s) included in the study will be taken using a customized x-ray holder (created during Visit 1) so that at the end of the study, a final x-ray will be taken in the exact same position. Finally, each participant will receive a dental prophylaxis (D1110) or maintenance (D4910) according to their prior periodontal diagnosis.

Maintenance Visits 2-6 (V2-V6) Participants will return in 3-month intervals at approximately 3, 6, 9, 12, and 15 months (+/- 10 days) for Study Visits V2 - V6. At each of these visits, individuals will be asked about continued participation in the study. Participants will also be asked if there have been any changes to medical or dental history and if they are taking any new medications. Intraoral photographs of the study area will be performed, as well as, collecting measurements from around the dental implant(s), and providing regular dental cleaning. At the 15 month visit, a final x-ray will be taken using the custom x-ray holder made at the first visit.

Clinical and radiographic assessments will include:

• BOP: at each of the 4 measured locations surrounding the implant of interest will be recorded as follows:

• Score 0 - No BOP
• Score 1 - Bleeding dot
• Score 2 - Continuous line of blood that fills the sulcus
• Score 3 - Profuse bleeding and/or hemorrhage drip.
• Probing depths (PD): at 4 locations surrounding the implant of interest (mesiolingual (ML), mesiobuccal (MB), distolingual (DL), and distobuccal (DB)). PD increase must exceed a threshold of 0.8mm to be considered progression.
• Recession: measured at each of the 4 locations surrounding the implant of interest.
• Keratinized mucosa width: measured at the midbuccal aspect of the implant(s).
• Mucosal thickness: assessed with the aid of an endodontic spreader, 2mm below the mucosal margin, at the midbuccal aspect of the implant(s).
• Marginal bone loss (MBL): measured by overlaying the baseline and final radiographs and measuring the change in marginal bone levels. Progression will have to exceed a threshold of 0.5mm to be considered.

Inclusion criteria

To be enrolled in the study, the participant must meet the following inclusion criteria:

• adults in good general health (at least ASA 2)
• having ≥ 1 dental implant that was restored before January 2021
• patients of the University of Pittsburgh Periodontics Department
• available for maintenance visits every 3 months for the length of the study

Exclusion criteria

• Active infectious diseases of any kind
• Pregnant or planning to become pregnant (self-reported)
• Congenital or metabolic bone disorders
• Current heavy smokers: Subjects who have smoked more than 1 pack/day within 6 months of study onset
• Co-morbid conditions that would affect the study outcome or interpretation of study results
• Require treatment for periodontal disease prior to baseline