Gabay E, Cohen O, Horwitz J. Supportive periodontal therapy affects dental implants probing pocket depth, bleeding on probing, and bone level: a 4- to 8-year follow-up study. Quintessence Int 2021; DOI: 10.3290/j.qi.b912663.

SPT has a significant positive effect on PPD, BOP, and on implant bone levels and should be an essential part of implant therapy.

This study evaluated the implant and patient characteristics after implant installation in a study involving immediate fixed restoration of dental implants for patients treated for generalised chronic periodontitis. The patients were examined clinically and radiographically at implant placement, 6 months, 1 year, and 4 to 8 years later. Supportive periodontal therapy (SPT), teeth and implant probing pocket depth (TPPD and IPPD), bleeding on probing (BOP [teeth, TBOP; implant, IBOP]), and bone level (BL) measurements around implants were documented. Cases were divided into three groups according to annual SPT rate: 0.00 to 0.99/year (SPT0), 1.00 to 1.99/year (SPT1), 2.00 or more/year (SPT2). Twelve patients, with 26 implants were included. A weak negative correlation was found between SPT rate and ΔTPPD, whereas a strong negative correlation was found between SPT rate and ΔIPPD. Negative correlations were found between SPT rate and ∆TBOP, and between SPT rate and ∆IBOP. A moderate correlation was found between SPT rate and ΔBL.