Tumor necrosis factor-alpha levels after surgical anti-infective mechanical therapy for peri-implantitis: a 12-month follow-up.
BACKGROUND
The aim of the present case series was to evaluate the effects of a surgical anti-infective mechanical therapy for peri-implantitis on clinical parameters and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) levels at 12 months post-therapy.


METHODS
Ten patients with peri-implantitis were treated with open surgical debridement, abrasive sodium carbonate air-powder, and resin curets. Clinical parameters were recorded before and 3 and 12 months after therapy. At these time points, the total amounts of TNF-alpha in the peri-implant crevicular fluid were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.


RESULTS
At 3 and 12 months, the anti-infective therapy resulted in significant improvements in all clinical parameters (P <0.05). Moreover, the total amount of TNF-alpha was significantly reduced at 3 and 12 months after therapy compared to baseline (P <0.05), paralleling the changes in mean probing depth and bleeding on probing.


CONCLUSIONS
The anti-infective mechanical therapy reduced the crevicular levels of TNF-alpha in sites affected by peri-implantitis over a period of 12 months, and this phenomenon was associated with improvements in clinical parameters.
de Mendonça
Adriana Cutrim
AC
Department of Periodontics, Dental Research Division, Guarulhos University, Guarulhos, SP, Brazil.
Santos
Vanessa Renata
VR
César-Neto
João Batista
JB
Duarte
Poliana Mendes
PM