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.