Periodontopathogens around the surface of mini-implants removed from orthodontic patients.

OBJECTIVE: To verify if mini-implant mobility is affected by the presence of periodontopathogens, frequently associated with peri-implantitis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The surfaces of 31 mini-implants used for skeletal anchorage in orthodontic patients were evaluated. Polymerase chain reaction was used for identification of the presence of DNA from three different periodontopathogens ( P. intermedia [ Pi ], A. actinomycetemcomitans [ Aa ], and P. gingivalis [ Pg ]) in 16 mini-implants without mobility (control group) and 15 mini-implants with mobility (experimental group). RESULTS: The results showed that Pi was present in 100% of the samples, from both groups: Aa was found in 31.3% of the control group and in 13.3% of the experimental group. Pg was detected in 37.4% of the control group and in 33.3% of the experimental group. The Fisher exact test and the odds ratio (OR) values for Aa and Pg (OR  =  0.34; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.05-2.10 and OR  =  0.61; 95% CI: 0.13-2.79, respectively) showed no significant association (P > .05) between the periodontopathogens studied and the mobility of the mini-implants. CONCLUSIONS: It can be concluded that the presence of Aa , Pi , and Pg around mini-implants is not associated with mobility.