Resolution of peri-implant mucositis at tissue-and bone-level implants: A 6-month prospective controlled clinical trial

Objective: To compare resolution of inflammation of naturally-occurring peri-implant mucositis (PM) at tissue-level (TL) and bone-level (BL) implants after non-surgical mechanical debridement. Material and methods: Fifty-four patients with 74 Implants with PM were allocated in two groups (39 TL and 35 BL implants) and treated by means of subgingival debridement using a sonic scaler with a plastic tip without adjunctive measures. At baseline and at 1,3,6 months the full-mouth plaque score (FMPS), full-mouth bleeding score (FMBS), probing depth (PD), bleeding on probing (BOP) and modified plaque index (mPlI) were recorded. The primary outcome was BOP change. Results: After 6 months, the FMPS, FMBS, PD and number of implants with plaque decreased statistically significantly in each group (p<0.05), however no statistically significant differences were found between TL and BL implants (p>0.05). After 6 months, 17 (43.6%) TL and 14 (40%) BL implants showed a BOP-change of (17.9%) and (11.4%) respectively. No statistical difference was recorded between groups. Conclusions: Within the limitations of present study, the findings showed no statistically significant differences in terms of changes in clinical parameters following non-surgical mechanical treatment of PM at TL and BL implants. A complete resolution of PM (i.e no BOP at all implant sites) was not achieved in both groups.