Estimation of the diagnostic accuracy of clinical parameters for monitoring periâ implantitis progression: An experimental canine study

BackgroundLack of consensus on the clinical parameters of periâ implantitis may complicate accurate diagnosis of the disorder. Furthermore, the lack of reliable estimates of the diagnostic capacity of the clinical endpoints precludes the definition of an effective treatment protocol for periâ implantitis. The present canine study assesses the diagnostic accuracy of the clinical parameters for monitoring the periâ implant tissues in a controlled ligatureâ induced periâ implantitis model followed by a spontaneous progression phase.MethodsSix beagle dogs were followedâ up on during three episodes of ligatureâ induced periâ implantitis and a further episode of spontaneous progression. Probing depth (PD), bleeding on probing (BOP), mucosal recession (MR), and suppuration (SUP) were recorded at four sites per implant and at four study timepoints. Moreover, the implant mucosal index (IMI) was calculated at implant level. Marginal bone loss (MBL) was determined using computed tomography at four sites per implant. A linear regression model was used to estimate clinical and radiological parameters during periâ implantitis progression.ResultsProgressive periâ implant bone loss is characterized by an increase in PD, more profuse BOP, MR, and SUP in advanced cases (p < 0.001). However, even in the presence of severe bone loss, SUP was not a common finding, with an incidence of approximately 10% at the last timepoint. These clinical parameters were significantly correlated to MBL at most of the timepoints. The IMI, in turn, showed a positive correlation to MBL and the periâ implant inflammatory signs (r = 0.39; pÂ