Cognitive and Emotional Peri-Implant Diseases Perception in a Cohort of Periodontitis Patients: A University-Based Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Background and Aim: Patients' disease perception plays a fundamental role in adherence to therapy and participation in long-term maintenance programmes. This cross-sectional study aimed to assess the cognitive and emotional representation of peri-implant diseases (PIDs) in a cohort of patients with periodontitis. Methods: Patients diagnosed with both periodontitis and PIDs were enrolled. Psychometric evaluation was conducted using the Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire (Brief-IPQ) and the Oral Health Impact Profile-14. Differences were analysed based on disease severity, and a multivariate logistic regression model was applied to explore associations between patient and implant-level variables and illness perception. Results: A total of 148 patients (459 implants) were included. Patients exhibited low perception of PIDs, with no differences between peri-implant mucositis and peri-implantitis. However, participants with both peri-implantitis and stage III/IV periodontitis presented with significantly higher Brief-IPQ scores. Having ≥ 3 implants and a history of periodontitis treatment were associated with a 4.16-fold and 6.58-fold increase, respectively, in the odds of a higher Brief-IPQ score. Conclusions: The cognitive and emotional representation of PIDs was found to be low among patients with both periodontitis and PIDs, but appeared to increase in more advanced clinical profiles. A higher number of implants and prior periodontal treatment were associated with greater disease representation. Trial Registration: The study protocol was approved by the University Hospital of Siena Ethics Committee (Siena, Italy) (Sezione Area vasta Toscana Sud Est, no. 25906), and it was registered on Clinicaltrials.gov (registration number: NCT06383351).