Sandblasted/acid-etched vs smooth-surface implants: implant clinical reaction to experimentally induced peri-implantitis in Beagle dogs

This study uses a sandblasted/acid-etched implant vs a smooth-surface implant to compare implant mobility and clinical reactions of peri-implant tissues to experimentally induced peri-implantitis in Beagle dogs. The right and left mandibular premolars were extracted from 5 Beagle dogs, and 2 smooth-surface (SS) implants and 2 sandblasted/acid-etched (SLA) implants were placed in each animal. After 120 days, healing abutments were connected. Fifteen days later, the prosthetic abutments were connected, the hygiene regimen was suspended, and peri-implantitis was induced by the insertion of cotton ligatures into the soft tissue around the implants. At baseline and 30, 60, and 90 days later, clinical attachment level (CAL), probing depth (PD), and mobility (MO) were measured. Probing depth increased significantly in the SLA group alone when baseline PD was compared with 30-, 60-, and 90-day evaluations (P < .05). No significant differences were noted between the 2 implant groups (P > .05). The loss in CAL was significant in both groups when the baseline value was compared with 30-, 60-, and 90-day evaluations (P < .02). Comparison between the 2 implant groups revealed a greater loss in CAL in the SLA group at the 90-day evaluation period (P = .04). A significant increase in mobility was seen in both groups when baseline values and 90-day evaluations were compared (P < .04). However, no statistically significant differences were noted between the 2 implant groups (P > .05). Experimentally induced peri-implantitis results in a greater loss of CAL in SLA implants than in SS implants in dogs; however, no differences in mobility or in PD have been noted between the 2 implant groups.