Influence of preformed bone defects on key pathogens and bone loss during experimental peri-implantitis formation in a canine model.

Purpose: To determine the impact of experimentally preformed peri-implant crater-shaped bone defects on the evolution of in situ microbiota and development of bone defects compared to those induced over time by ligature placement only.
Methods: Implants were installed in the mandibles of eight dogs. Standardized bone defects were preformed in four test animals but not in the other four control animals, prior to implant (3.3 mm × 8 mm) installation. After 2 months of healing, peri-implantitis was induced with silk ligatures in both groups for 2 months. Microbial samples were obtained from implants and teeth for analysis at three time points (qPCR), and the average depths of the bone defects were measured.
Results: At the baseline, the total marker load of periodontal-pathogenic bacteria (TML) for teeth accounted for 5.2% (0-17.4%). After implant healing, TMLs for implants and teeth were comparable (7.1% [0.3-17.4%]). The TML of both groups was 3.5%, 2 months after ligature placement. Bone defects had a mean depth of 1.84 mm at preformed defects and 1.64 mm at control sites (P > 0.05).
Conclusion: Preformed defects in the test group showed comparable results to the control group in terms of TML, the incidence of periodontal-pathogenic bacteria, and bone defect depth.