Implantoplasty Versus Glycine Air Abrasion for the Surgical Treatment of Peri-implantitis: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Lasserre, Jérôme Brecx, Michel [UCL] Toma, Selena [UCL]

PURPOSE: Numerous approaches have been proposed for the treatment of peri-implantitis, but to date, none has been identified as the most effective. This study compared the efficacy of implantoplasty and glycine air polishing for the surgical treatment of peri-implantitis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This prospective, randomized, parallel-group trial included 31 patients presenting with 42 implants with peri-implantitis. Patients underwent surgical treatment by implantoplasty (test group, n = 22) or glycine air polishing (control group, n = 20). Clinical parameters (Plaque Index), bleeding on probing (BOP), suppuration on probing (SOP), probing pocket depth (PPD), relative attachment level (RAL), and mucosal recession were assessed before surgery (baseline), and at 3 months and 6 months after surgery. Bone loss was recorded at baseline and 6 months. Two composite outcomes were also evaluated, according to the following definitions: (1) mean PPD reduction ≥ 0.5 mm + no further loss of bone; (2) PPD ≤ 5 mm, absence of BOP/SOP, and no additional mean bone loss ≥ 0.5 mm. RESULTS: Plaque Index remained low (< 0.5) in both groups for the duration of the study. Mean BOP, SOP, PPD, and RAL were greatly reduced at 3 months in both groups, and remained low between 3 months and 6 months. Bone loss was stable in the implantoplasty group, and slight bone gain (0.5 mm) was observed in the glycine air-polishing group. There were no significant differences between the two groups in any parameter, and composite treatment outcomes were similar in both groups, irrespective of the definition. CONCLUSION: Within the limitations of this 6-month follow-up study, implantoplasty is as effective as glycine air polishing for the surgical treatment of peri-implantitis.