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

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 × 10⁵ vs 3 × 10⁵ ; Milleri streptococci , 2 × 10⁶ vs 6 × 10⁵ ; Capnocytophaga spp., 2 × 10⁶ vs 9 × 10⁵ ; E.corrodens , 2 × 10⁶ vs 5 × 10⁵ ; N. mucosa , 2 × 10⁶ vs 5 × 10⁵ ; S.noxia , 2 × 10⁶ vs 3 × 10⁵ ; T.socranskii , 2 × 10⁶ vs 5 × 10⁵ ; H.alvei , 4 × 10⁵ vs 2 × 10⁵ ; and Neisseria spp., 6 × 10⁵ vs 4 × 10⁴ ), day 30 ( V.parvula , 5 × 10⁵ vs 10⁵ ; Capnocytophaga spp., 1.3 × 10⁶ vs 6.8 × 10⁴ ; F.periodonticum , 2 × 10⁶ vs 10⁶ ; S.noxia , 6 × 10⁵ vs 2 × 10⁵ ; H.alvei , 8 × 10⁵ vs 9 × 10⁴ ; and Neisseria spp., 2 × 10⁵ vs 10⁶ ), day 120 ( V.parvula , 8 × 10⁵ vs 3 × 10⁵ ; S.noxia , 2 × 10⁶ vs 0; and T.socranskii , 3 × 10⁵ vs 8 × 10⁴ ), and day 180 ( S.enterica subsp. enterica serovar Typhi, 8 × 10⁶ vs 2 × 10⁶ ) (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.