The influence of diabetes mellitus on the peri-implant microflora: A cross-sectional study

Abstract

BackgroundType 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is an important systemic disease, predisposing patients to inflammatory conditions including periodontitis and peri-implantitis and negatively affects dental implant success through various mechanisms. This study aimed to compare clinical and microbiological findings of individuals with dental implants with or without T2DM. MethodsA total of 82 dental implants which were in function >3 years, were involved. The participants were divided into 2 groups; T2DM (n: 45 implants) and systemically healthy controls (n:37 implants). Periodontal indexes (Bleeding on probing (BOP), plaque index (PI), pocket depth (PD), and radiographic bone loss were recorded around implants in function >3 years. Subgingival microbiological samples were also collected from the peri-implant sites. Pathogens include Fusobacterium nucleatum, Camphylobacter rectus, Porphyromonas gingivalis, Tannerella forsythia, Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans, Treponema denticola, Prevotella intermedia, Peptostreptococcus micros, Eikinella corrodens, Prevotella nigrescens were evaluated. ResultsPeri-implant heatlh was determined in systemically healthy (54.1%) and type 2 diabetes patients (24.4%). Peri-implantitis was also evident in systemically healthy (8.1%) and T2DM (35.6%) groups. No differences was found in shallow peri-implant pockets in both groups in terms of the prevelance of all evaluated bacteria (p > 0.05). However, C. rectus, P. gingivalis, A. actinomycetemcomitans and T. forsythia were isolated more frequently in deep peri-implant pockets in systemically healthy patients compared to T2DM patients (p < 0.05). ConclusionsEvaluted periodontal pathogens may not be affected by the presence of T2DM in implants. T2DM may not significantly alter the levels of specific periodontal pathogens in shallow and deep peri-implant pockets. C. rectus, P. gingivalis, A. actinomycetemcomitans and T. forsythia may be affected by T2DM in implants in deep pockets.