Clinical and radiographic peri-implant variables around short dental implants in type 2 diabetic, prediabetic, and non-diabetic patients

Background: Clinical and radiographic status around short dental implants in patients with different glycemic levels remains unexplored. Purpose: To determine the clinical and radiographic bone level (RBL) around short dental implants in type-2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), prediabetic, and non-diabetic patients. Materials and Methods: Participants were grouped into three groups based on HbA1c levels: T2DM (Group-1); prediabetic patients (Group-2); and non-diabetic subjects (Group-3). Clinical recordings included the assessment of peri-implant plaque index (PI), bleeding on probing (BOP), probing depth (PD). Radiographic analysis included evaluation of standardized periapical digital radiographs using specialized software and image analyzer. Results: Clinical peri-implant parameters including PI and BOP were statistically significantly higher in group-1 (P <.01) and group 2 (P <.05) as compared to group-3. Mean PD was statistically significantly higher in group-1 patients compared to group-3 (P <.01). Radiographic bone loss was significantly higher in both group-1 (P <.01) and group-2 (P <.05) patients as compared to patients in group 3. RBL showed statistically significant difference among T2DM patients even after adjusting for HbA1c, total cholesterol, and body mass index (P <.05) and statistically significant difference in prediabetic patients after adjusting for only HbA1c (P <.05). Conclusion: Clinical and radiographic peri-implant parameters are compromised around short dental implants in type-2 diabetes mellitus patients. Further longitudinal studies are needed to compare clinical performance of short dental implants with standard dental implants placed in patients with different glycemic level.