Prevalence of peri-implant mucositis at single tooth bone level dental implants in a South African population

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Peri-implant mucositis (PIM) is characterized by inflammation of the soft tissues surrounding dental implants. It affects 43% of implant patients on average and despite its reversible nature, it can, if left untreated, progress to peri-implantitis and potentially implant failure. To date, there is a paucity of data on the prevalence of PIM in South Africa AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To determine the prevalence of peri-implant mucositis in patients from the Faculty of Dentistry of the University of the Western Cape, and to evaluate potential risk factors including systemic (smoking, diabetes), implant-related (implant position and diameter, connection and crown) and soft tissue-related (keratinized gingiva, oral hygiene) issues. DESIGN: Cross-sectional cohort study METHODS: A total of 74 partially edentulous patients with at least one implant that had been restored with a single crown for at least 12 months were clinically examined. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: PIM was highly prevalent (70.3% of the sample), highlighting the need for maintenance programs for the long-term success of dental implants. Anterior location of the implant, poor oral hygiene, pre-operative oral hygiene instructions and a wide band of KM were associated with PIM. However, due to the limited sample size, these findings should be interpreted with caution.