PGCEE MDS 2022: Inflammation and bleeding on probing around an implant are usually less than with natural teeth because:

 # Inflammation and bleeding on probing around an implant are usually less than with natural teeth because:

A. less plaque accumulation

B. less blood vessels

C. dense connective tissue with type III collagen

D. sulcus lining by keratinized mucosa

The correct answer is B. Less blood vessels.

Compared with an implant, the support system of a natural tooth is better designed to reduce the biomechanical forces distributed to the tooth/restoration and the crestal bone region. The periodontal membrane, biomechanical design of the tooth root and material, nerve and blood vessel complex, occlusal material (enamel) and surrounding type of bone blend to decrease the risk of occlusal overload to the natural tooth system.

Regardless of whether gingival health is relative to success, all dentists agree that the ideal soft tissue condition around an implant is an absence of inflammation. Radiographic bone loss and increased pocket depth have been correlated with sulcular bleeding. Therefore, the gingival status around an implant should be recorded and used to monitor the patient’s daily oral hygiene. However, surrounding soft tissues around implants have fewer blood vessels than teeth; therefore, inflammation is typically less around implants than around teeth.

Ref: DENTAL IMPLANT PROSTHETICS, SECOND EDITION, Carl E. Misch