Association Between Peri-implant Bone Morphology and Marginal Bone Loss: A Retrospective Study on Implant-Supported Mandibular Overdentures

Purpose: The present study aimed to explore the association between marginal bone loss and type of peri-implant bony defect determined using a new peri-implant bony defect classification system. Materials and Methods: A total of 110 patients with implant-supported mandibular overdentures were involved. Clinical information was collected, including gender, age, smoking habit, and the overdenture attachment system used. Peri-implant bony defect types and marginal distances (ie, distance between the marginal bone level and the top of the implant shoulder) of all sites were identified on panoramic radiographs by a single experienced observer. The associations between marginal distance and peri-implant bony defect type, gender, age, smoking habit, attachment system, and time after implantation were investigated using marginal generalized linear models and regression analysis. Results: A total of 83 participants were included in the final sample with a total of 224 implants involving 3,124 implant sites. The mean observation time was 10.7 years. All peri-implant bony defect types except Type 5 (slit-like) were significantly related to marginal distance in all models (P .01). Smoking and time after implantation were significantly related to marginal distance while gender, age, and the overdenture attachment system used were not. Conclusions: The periimplant bony defect type, determined using the new classification system, is associated with the extent of marginal bone loss. Keywords: bone morphology, dental implant, marginal bone loss, peri-implant bone defect