Objectives: The purpose of this study was to examine reactions of gingiva and peri-implant mucosa (PiM) to de novo plaque accumulation in humans.
Material and methods: Prior to the start of the study, which included 12 partially edentulous subjects, a 3-week plaque control program was performed. Ethical approval was granted by the local ethics committee. On day 0, 2 soft tissue biopsies were harvested, 1 from a tooth and 1 from an implant site in every subject. After 3 weeks of undisturbed plaque accumulation (day 21), 2 additional biopsies were obtained from the gingiva and PiM in each subject. The tissue samples, each 4x4 mm in size, were snap frozen and prepared for immunohistochemical analysis.
Results: The size of the infiltrate (ICT) in the day 0 biopsies, was about 0.03 mm2 in both the gingiva and PiM. At the end of the plaque accumulation period, the size of the lesion had significantly increased in both groups and occupied an area of 0.26 mm2 in the gingiva and 0.14 mm2 in PiM. In the biopsies presenting day 0, the proportions of the various cell populations examined were similar in the gingiva and in PiM. The tissue fractions of almost all types of cells increased during the 3 weeks, but the mean change for each cell type was greater in the gingiva than in PiM. The CD3/CD19 ratio decreased in the gingiva between day 0 and 21, but increased in PiM.
Conclusion: The results of the present study indicated that plaque accumulation induced an inflammatory response characterized by increased proportions of T- and B-cells in the ICT of both the gingiva and the PiM. Although not statistically significant, the host response in the gingiva tended to be more pronounced than in the peri-implant mucosa.