Pre- and post-implantation microbiota of the tongue, teeth, and newly placed implants

This investigation sought intra-oral sources of species colonizing dental implants.

Plaque samples were taken pre- and post-successful osseointegration from implants, teeth, and from tongues of 10 edentulous and 11 partially dentate subjects. Samples were assayed using whole genomic DNA probes in a checkerboard assay to 42 subgingival species.

Similar prevalences and mean levels (10(3) to 10(4)) of microorganisms colonized implants and teeth. Species levels from tongue samples were higher than those of teeth and implants, although species prevalence was similar, suggesting that larger samples were obtained from the tongue. No significant differences were observed between the microbiota from the tongue of edentulous and partially dentate subjects. Most implant species were detected on tongue pre-implantation. In individual edentulous subjects, there were positive associations between Capnocytophaga ochracea and Campylobacter rectus from tongue and implant samples. In individual partially dentate subjects, there were positive associations between Fusobacterium nucleatum subsp. vincentii from tongue and implant samples, and Treponema denticola from implant and tooth samples taken at the same visit.

This study indicated that the tongue, in addition to teeth, can be a source for species colonizing new implants.