Background: Considering the high success rate of osseoin-tegration, there is ever-increasing use of dental implants. The mechanisms and biologic response of peri-implant tissues are different depending on the biocompatibility of the implant material. The aim of this study was to compare the proinflammatory cytokine levels in the gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) around dental implants with ceramic and titanium abutments.
Materials and methods: All the patients with dental implants referring to two private offices of two prosthodontists from June to August 2016 were examined in relation to implant health, and eligible subjects, based on inclusion criteria, were included in this study with a slit-mouth design. In this context, on one side titanium implants and, on the other side, ceramic implants were used. Samples were collected from the peri-implant sulcus in each patient and sent to the immunology laboratory for determination of interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-1β proinflammatory cytokine levels using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit. Data were analyzed with Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 16. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05.
Results: The results showed lower levels of IL-1β and IL-6 in the GCF around ceramic abutments compared with titanium implants. In addition, statistical comparison between IL-6 and IL-1β levels showed higher levels of IL-6 around titanium and ceramic abutments compared with IL-1β levels.
Conclusion: Based on the results of this study, the human body immune response to ceramic abutments is much better than that to titanium implants.
Clinical significance: Considering that proinflammatory cytokine levels in GCF around ceramic abutments are lower than titanium ones, ceramic abutments are preferred for clinical usage.
Keywords: Ceramic abutment; Cytokine; Dental implant; Gingival crevicular fluid Titanium abutment..