Colonization dynamics of subgingival microbiota in recently installed dental implants compared to healthy teeth in the same individual: a 6-month prospective observational study

ABSTRACT

Abstract Objectives To evaluate the colonization dynamics of subgingival microbiota established over six months around newly installed dental implants in periodontally healthy individuals, compared with their corresponding teeth. Methodology Seventeen healthy individuals assigned to receive single dental implants participated in the study. Subgingival biofilm was sampled from all implant sites and contralateral/ antagonist teeth on days 7, 30, 90, and 180 after implant installation. Microbiological analysis was performed using the Checkerboard DNA-DNA hybridization technique for detection of classical oral taxa and non-oral microorganisms. Significant differences were estimated by Mann-Whitney and Friedman tests, while associations between implants/teeth and target species levels were assessed by linear regression analysis (LRA). Significance level was set at 5%. Results Levels of some species were significantly higher in teeth compared to implants, respectively, at day 7 ( V.parvula , 6 × 10 5 vs 3 × 105 ; Milleri streptococci , 2 × 10 6 vs 6 × 10 5 ; Capnocytophaga spp., 2 × 10 6 vs 9 × 10 5 ; E.corrodens , 2 × 10 6 vs 5 × 10 5 ; N. mucosa , 2 × 10 6 vs 5 × 10 5 ; S.noxia , 2 × 10 6 vs 3 × 10 5 ; T.socranskii , 2 × 10 6 vs 5 × 10 5 ; H.alvei , 4 × 10 5 vs 2 × 10 5 ; and Neisseria spp., 6 × 10 5 vs 4 × 10 4 ), day 30 ( V.parvula , 5 × 10 5 vs 10 5 ; Capnocytophaga spp., 1.3 × 10 6 vs 6.8 × 10 4 ; F.periodonticum , 2 × 10 6 vs 10 6 ; S.noxia , 6 × 10 5 vs 2 × 10 5 ; H.alvei , 8 × 10 5 vs 9 × 10 4 ; and Neisseria spp., 2 × 10 5 vs 10 6 ), day 120 ( V.parvula , 8 × 10 5 vs 3 × 10 5 ; S.noxia , 2 × 10 6 vs 0; and T.socranskii , 3 × 10 5 vs 8 × 10 4 ), and day 180 ( S.enterica subsp. enterica serovar Typhi, 8 × 10 6 vs 2 × 10 6 ) (p<0.05). Implants showed significant increases over time in the levels of F.nucleatum , Gemella spp., H.pylori , P.micra , S.aureus , S.liquefaciens , and T.forsythia (p<0.05). LRA found that dental implants were negatively correlated with high levels of S. noxia and V. parvula (β=-0.5 to -0.3; p<0.05). Conclusions Early submucosal microbiota is diverse and only a few species differ between teeth and implants in the same individual. Only 7 days after implant installation, a rich microbiota can be found in the peri-implant site. After six months of evaluation, teeth and implants show similar prevalence and levels of the target species, including known and new periodontopathic species.