Peri-Implant Bone Loss at Implants Placed in Preserved Alveolar Bone Versus Implants Placed in Native Bone: A Retrospective Radiographic Study

The aim of our study was to compare peri-implant bone loss at implants placed in alveolar sockets filled with a particulate allogenous bone graft (DFDBA 300-500 µm) and platelet concentrates versus at implants placed in the native bone.

A retrospective clinical study was performed. A total of 84 patients were included with 247 implants for the restoration of mono and pluri-radicular teeth: 169 implants in native bone and 78 in socket-grafted bone. The peri-implant bone loss was measured by 2 independent operators at 6 and 12 months.

The overall mesial and distal peri-implant bone losses were 0.9 ± 0.7 mm and 0.9 ± 0.8 mm at 6 months, respectively, and 1 ± 0.65 mm and 1.2 ± 0.9 mm at 12 months, respectively. In the tested group, the bone loss was 0.8 ± 0.8 mm at 6 months and 1.2 ± 0.9 mm at 12 months. In the control group, the bone loss was 1.0 ± 0.7 mm at 6 months and 0.95 ± 0.6 mm at 12 months. There were no statistically significant differences in bone loss between the two groups. Taking both groups together, there were no statistically significant difference in bone loss between patients with or without histories of periodontitis, but there was a statistically significant difference in bone loss between the mandible and maxilla as well as between unitary and total edentations and between partially and total edentulous patients.

At 6 and 12 months, the peri-implant bone loss in sockets preserved with DFDBA and platelet concentrates was similar to the peri-implant bone loss in native bone.