title: Internal bacterial colonization of implants: association with peri-implant bone loss.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the present longitudinal study was to investigate bacterial colonization of the internal implant cavity and to evaluate a possible association with peri-implant bone loss.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 264 paper point samples were harvested from the intra-implant cavity of 66 implants in 26 patients immediately following implant insertion and after 3, 4, and 12 months. Samples were evaluated for Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, Fusobacterium nucleatum, Porphyromonas gingivalis, Prevotella intermedia, Treponema denticola, and Tannerella forsythia as well as total bacterial counts by real-time PCR. Bone loss was evaluated on standardized radiographs up to 25 months after implant insertion. For the statistical analysis of the data, mixed effects models were fitted.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was an increase in the frequency of detection as well as in the mean counts of the selected bacteria over time. The evaluation of the target bacteria revealed a significant association of Pr. intermedia at 4 and 12 months with peri-implant bone loss at 25 months (4 months: P = 0.009; 12 months: P = 0.021).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present study could demonstrate a progressive colonization by periodontopathogenic bacteria in the internal cavities of two-piece implants. The results suggest that internal colonization with Pr. intermedia was associated with peri-implant bone loss.
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontology, Operative and Preventive Dentistry, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany.
authors.forename: Pia-Merete
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Jervøe-Storm
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontology, Operative and Preventive Dentistry, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany.
authors.forename: Søren
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jepsen
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Surgery, University of Witten/Herdecke, Witten, Germany.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Jöhren
authors.affiliation: Department of Prosthodontics, University of Berne, Berne, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Regina
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mericske-Stern
authors.affiliation: Department of Prosthodontics, University of Berne, Berne, Switzerland.|Department of Prosthetic Dentistry, Propaedeutics and Material Science, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany.
authors.forename: Norbert
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Enkling
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016976:Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans / Q000302:isolation & purification; D016301:Alveolar Bone Loss / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D058491:Bacterial Load; D015921:Dental Implants / Q000382:microbiology*; D005260:Female; D016967:Fusobacterium nucleatum / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D057873:Peri-Implantitis / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D016966:Porphyromonas gingivalis / Q000302:isolation & purification; D018713:Prevotella intermedia / Q000302:isolation & purification; D011446:Prospective Studies; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D000070436:Tannerella forsythia / Q000302:isolation & purification; D048373:Treponema denticola / Q000302:isolation & purification
chemical_list: D015921:Dental Implants
keywords: bacterial colonization, bone loss; dental implant; periodontal pathogens; real-time PCR