The Effects of Different Variables on Marginal Bone Loss around Dental Implants

Objective: To assess the effects of different variables including implant type and thread design, bone width and height measured on cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) images, along with systemic and patient related factors on marginal bone loss around dental implants which were measured on postoperative panoramic radiographs. Methods: A total of 116 dental implants from two manufacturers were used in the study. Age, gender, history of diabetes mellitus and hypertension, smoking habit, implant thread type, implant site, length and diameter were recorded. Available alveolar bone width and height were measured on preoperative CBCT images. Marginal bone loss around dental implants was measured on the panoramic radiographs taken three months after implant placement on both mesial and distal sides. Results: There were no statistically significant differences for the measurements of marginal bone loss on both distal and mesial sides according to gender, region, jaw and implant type. While there was a significant difference between patients with and without diabetes mellitus in terms of distal marginal bone loss (p < 0.05); no significant difference was found between patients with and without diabetes mellitus for mesial marginal bone loss. The mean of marginal bone loss was 1.43 ± 0.75 mm and 1.45 ± 0.75 at the distal and mesial sides, respectively. We found statistically significant differences for alveolar width and marginal bone loss. However, no significant differences were found for the height measurements. Conclusion: Marginal bone loss increased with an increase in bone width. There were no significant differences for the measurements of marginal bone loss on both distal and mesial sides according to gender, region, jaw, and implant type.