Peri-implant soft tissue inflammatory parameters and crestal bone loss among waterpipe (narghile) smokers and never-smokers with and without type 2 diabetes mellitus

Background: Peri-implant soft tissue inflammatory parameters and crestal bone loss (CBL) among waterpipe smokers (WS) with and without type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) remains uninvestigated. The aim of the present study was to assess peri-implant soft tissue inflammatory parameters and CBL among WS and never smokers (NS) with and without T2DM.

Methods: Demographic data and information regarding duration of implants in function, daily frequency of smoking, duration and treatment of T2DM, and daily toothbrushing was collected using a questionnaire. Peri-implant plaque index (PI), bleeding on probing (BOP), probing depth (PD) ≥4 mm, CBL, and hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels were assessed in all individuals. Level of significance was set at 5%.

Results: Seventy-nine male individuals (39 patients with T2DM [20 WS and 19 NS] and 40 systemically healthy individuals [21 WS smokers and 19 NS]) were included. The mean age was comparable among individuals in all groups. The mean HbA1c levels were significantly higher among patients with T2DM compared to controls (P < 0.01). Peri-implant PI, BOP, PD, and CBL were comparable among WS and NS with T2DM. Among patients without T2DM, PI (P < 0.05), PD ≥4 mm (P < 0.05) and mesial and distal CBL (P < 0.05) were significantly higher in WS than NS. Among individuals without T2DM, BOP was significantly higher among NS (P < 0.05) than WS. In patients with T2DM, BOP was comparable among WS and NS.

Conclusions: Peri-implant soft tissue inflammatory parameters and CBL were comparable among WS and NS with T2DM. Among individuals without T2DM, these parameters were worse among WS than NS.