A retrospective study on the influence of inclination of cusp on implant marginal bone height in patients with periodontal disease

To investigate the correlation between the marginal bone height of implants in the posterior maxilla of patients with periodontal disease and the inclination of cusp, providing a theoretical basis for the occlusal design of implant restorations in such patients. Methods: A total of 80 patients with periodontal disease who underwent implant restoration in the posterior maxilla (55 men and 25 women; mean age 56.66 ± 12.70 years) were selected, with a total of 80 implant restorations (one implant restoration per patient). In addition to recording the main research factor of the inclination of cusp, general patient information, implant characteristics and restoration characteristics were taken, and retrospective analysis of the case data and imaging data of the 80 patients from over 3 years was conducted. Cone beam computed tomography was performed preoperatively and 3 years after implant loading to measure and calculate the marginal bone height of the implants using the One Volume Viewer software. Correlation analysis was performed to determine the relationship between the inclination of the cusp and marginal bone height. Results: There was a positive correlation between the inclination of cusp and the marginal bone height of the implants, with a correlation coefficient of 0.661 (p < 0.001); the diameter of the implants, implant type and restoration type were negatively correlated with the marginal bone height of the implants, with correlation coefficients of -0.364 (p = 0.001), -0.232 (p = 0.038) and -0.298 (p = 0.007), respectively. Conclusion: When designing the occlusion of implant restorations in the posterior maxilla of patients with periodontal disease, it is advisable to appropriately reduce the restoration's inclination of cusp.