COVID-19 as a Risk Factor for Peri-Implant Disease: A Prospective Clinical Study.

INTRODUCTION: The systemic effects of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) may influence bone metabolism, potentially impacting the success of dental implants. This study investigated the effects of prior COVID-19 infection on hard- and soft-tissue outcomes following dental implant placement with the aim of providing insights for optimizing treatment planning in prosthetic dentistry. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A prospective comparative study was conducted at the Department of Prosthodontics, Sibar Institute of Dental Sciences, Guntur, India, between May 2022 and December 2023. Twenty partially edentulous patients (aged 20-60 years) were divided into two groups: Group A (n = 10, COVID-19 history) and Group B (n = 10, non-COVID-19 history). The inclusion criteria were mandibular posterior edentulism and sufficient bone dimensions confirmed using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT). Group A required confirmation of a prior COVID-19 infection via reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The exclusion criteria were uncontrolled systemic diseases and smoking. Dental implants (AlphaBio ICE, Petach Tikva, Israel) were placed using surgical stents and preoperative antibiotics. The parameters assessed at baseline and at three and six months included mucosal thickness, bleeding on probing (BOP), implant stability (Osstell ISQ; Göteborg, Sweden), and marginal bone loss (via intraoral periapical (IOPA) radiographs). The data were subjected to statistical analyses. RESULTS: Both groups had comparable demographics (mean age: 34.10 ± 4.15 years). Non-COVID-19 patients showed implant stability (p = 0.634), significant marginal bone loss (p = 0.001), and mucosal thinning at six months (p = 0.001). COVID-19 patients exhibited marginally improved implant stability from three to six months (p = 0.06), significant bone loss (p < 0.001), and progressive mucosal thinning (p < 0.001). Between-group comparisons indicated lower implant stability (p = 0.02) and reduced mucosal thickness (p = 0.01) in COVID-19 patients at three months, with marginally greater bone loss at six months (p = 0.05). CONCLUSION: A prior COVID-19 infection may contribute to delayed osseointegration, increased bone loss, and altered soft tissue healing, necessitating tailored treatment strategies and vigilant monitoring in implant dentistry.