ABSTRACT
Peri-implantitis is a dental plaque-associated inflammatory process characterized by bone crest resorption and the formation of peri-implant pockets. Plaque accumulation around implants is influenced by the quality of adaptation between the implant and its prosthetic components, which, in turn, may be dependent on the type of prosthetic system used. The aim of this study was to investigate whether cement-retained implant prostheses are greater risk factors for peri-implantitis than screw-retained prostheses, due to cementation line, which is located in the subgingival portion, serving as a local secondary etiological factor. 107 implants of 25 patients (with 32 cement-retained and 75 screw-retained prostheses) in function for a minimum of 6 months were evaluated based on peri-implant probing depth, bleeding on probing and radiographic bone loss. Overall, peri-implantitis was diagnosed around 63 implants (58.88%) of which 81.2% with cement-retained prostheses and 49.3% with screw-retained prostheses. Chi-Square analysis revealed a significant ass ociation between the use of cement-retained prostheses and the presence of peri- implantitis (p=0.004). Moreover, radiographic bone loss was greater around implants with cement-retained prostheses than in those with screw-retained configurations (2.39 and 1.84mm respectively, p= 0.001, Student t test). These results suggest that cement-retained prostheses increase both radiographically detectable bone loss around implants and the risk of peri-implantitis.