The Effect of Dental Implants on Secretory Iga Level in Saliva

Abstract

Background and aims: The host immune response is altered by a series of physiological and pathological factors such as age, gender, inflammation, surgery, and medications. This study was conducted to evaluate differences in salivary IgA (S-IgA) levels in individuals who underwent dental implant surgery and compare them to individuals who were not exposed to dental treatments. S-IgA levels were determined at least 3 months after implant installation. Methods: A total of 60 healthy individuals were included in the study; 30 participants received implant treatment (Implant Group) and were compared with 30 participants with no implant treatment as controls (Control Group). 1.5 ml of unstimulated saliva was obtained for all participants. The quantitative enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technique was used for the measurement of salivary IgA levels. Results: The age range of the participants in the implant group was 38-62 years, with a mean age of 47.9 years; 18 (60%) were males and 12 (40%) were females. The age range of the study's controls was 38-59 years, with a mean age ± SD of 45.2 ± 5.2 years for 18 (60%) males and 12 (40%) females. The mean number of implants was 2.7 ± 0.83, and the mean period after implant placement was 19.2 ± 8.2 months. A low sIgA level (< 250 μg/mL) was present in 10% of implant patients, but not in any cases in the control group. In contrast, only 6.7% of implant patients had this amount at a level greater than 351 μg/mL, compared to 53.3% in the control group. The mean ± SD for cases was 302.7 ± 36.8 g/mL versus 370.8 ± 59.2 μg/mL for controls, indicating that all normal distribution values were significantly lower in the implant patient group compared to higher values in healthy controls. Males had higher normal values across the board in both groups (cases and controls). Male dental implant patients' mean and standard deviation (312.2 ± 38.3 vs. 408.2 ± 42.2 µg/ml) showed a statistically significant decrease. Female dental implant patients' mean and standard deviation (287.3 30.6 vs. 314.7 ± 27.6 µg/ml) showed a statistically significant decrease. Overall, there was a significant decrease in the mean ±SD of dental implant patients (302.7 ± 36.8 µg/ml) versus the rising level in the total healthy control group (370.8 ± 36.8 µg/ml). The observed averages of sIgA for the presence of peri-implant mucositis in the two independent samples (yes, no) differed significantly by 60.7, with a 95% confidence interval of 41.1-80.3, and this finding is very significant (p<0.0001). Conclusion: Salivary immunoglobulin A level values were significantly lower statistically in implant patients compared to the control group. The results, however, showed that there is a connection between lower sIgA levels in saliva and the development of pre-implant mucositis, meaning that low sIgA levels are risk factors for peri-implant mucositis or that peri-implant mucositis causes lower sIgA levels to be produced in mouth saliva.