Assessment of peri-implant tissue dimensions following surgical therapy of advanced ligature-induced peri-implantitis defects

BACKGROUND: To evaluate peri-implant tissue dimensions following implantoplasty and/or regenerative therapy of advanced ligature-induced peri-implantitis in dogs. MATERIAL AND METHODS: At all defect sites (n = 6 dogs, n = 48 implants), the intrabony component was filled with a particulate bovine-derived natural bone mineral (NBM). The supracrestal component was treated by either the application of an equine bone block (EB) or implantoplasty. In a split-mouth design, NBM and EB were soak-loaded with rhBMP-2 or sterile saline. All sites were covered using a native collagen membrane and left to heal in a submerged position for 12 weeks. The horizontal mucosal thickness (hMT) and bone thickness (hBT) were measured at four reference points: (v0) at the level of implant shoulder (IS), (v1) 50% of the distance IS-bone crest (BC), (v2) at the BC, and (v3) at the most coronal extension of the bone-to-implant contact. RESULTS: The general tendency indicated a gradual increase in hMT from the IS (v0) toward BC (v2), which was more pronounced at implant sites treated with the regenerative approach. The hBT values increased from v2 to v3, with the highest values at the v3 region measured for implant sites treated with adjunctive rhBMP-2. For sites treated with implantoplasty, the linear regression model demonstrated an inverse correlation between hMT and hBT, whereas a positive correlation was observed at those sites treated with the regenerative approach. CONCLUSION: Horizontal soft and hard tissue dimensions were similar among different treatment groups.