Short Versus Standard Dental Implants: Clinical and Biomarker Outcomes

September 15, 2026 updated by: Kubra Aral, Inonu University

Comparison of Peri-Implant Tissue Health and Biomarker Outcomes Between Short and Standard Dental Implants: A Prospective Study

This study compares two types of dental implants, short implants (6 millimeters or less in length) and standard implants (longer than 8 millimeters), to evaluate their effect on the health of the gum and bone tissue surrounding the implant. Approximately 40 patients receiving a total of 80 dental implants will be followed. Researchers will assess clinical signs of gum health around the implants, measure specific protein levels (biomarkers) in the fluid surrounding the implants associated with gum disease. The goal of this study is to determine whether implant length affects the risk of inflammation or infection around dental implants, which may help guide treatment decisions in the future.

Study Overview

Status

Not yet recruiting

Conditions

Detailed Description

This is a prospective study enrolling approximately 40 patients who will receive a total of 80 dental implants, categorized as short (≤6 mm) or standard (>8 mm) in length. Peri-implant crevicular fluid (PICF) samples will be collected at baseline from all patients. In patients who develop peri-implant mucositis, an additional PICF sample will be collected at 1 and 3 months. PICF samples will be analyzed by ELISA for RANKL, OPG, cathepsin-K, and cytokine levels. Implant diameter and length will be recorded for each patient. Clinical parameters of peri-implant tissue health will also be assessed at each visit. The study aims to compare biochemical and clinical outcomes between short and standard implants to determine whether implant length influences peri-implant tissue health.

Study Type

Observational

Enrollment (Estimated)

40

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Locations

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Sampling Method

Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Adult patients presenting to the Department of Periodontology, Faculty of Dentistry, Inonu University, for routine dental check-up, who have at least one short (≤6 mm) and/or standard (>8 mm) dental implant in function for at least 2 years.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Systemically healthy adults aged 18-70 years.
  • Presence of at least one short (≤6 mm) and/or standard (>8 mm) dental implant in function for at least 2 years.
  • Patients presenting to the Department of Periodontology, Faculty of Dentistry, Inonu University, for routine dental examination.
  • For the peri-implant health group: absence of clinical signs of inflammation (redness, edema, or suppuration), absence of bleeding on probing (BOP), probing pocket depth (PPD) ≤5 mm, full-mouth BOP <10%, no radiographic evidence of pathological peri-implant bone loss, and no clinical implant mobility.
  • For the peri-implant mucositis group: presence of clinical signs of inflammation (redness and/or edema) without suppuration, presence of bleeding on probing (BOP), probing pocket depth (PPD) ≤5 mm, full-mouth BOP >10%, no radiographic evidence of pathological peri-implant bone loss, and no clinical implant mobility.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Age younger than 18 years or older than 70 years.
  • Presence of any systemic disease.
  • Immune system disorders or use of immunosuppressive medications.
  • Requirement for antibiotic prophylaxis before dental procedures.
  • Bisphosphonate therapy for osteoporosis.
  • Pregnancy or lactation.
  • Smoking.
  • Alcohol consumption.
  • Antibiotic treatment within the previous 6 months.
  • Continuous use of systemic medications.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort
Short implant group
Patients receiving dental implants with a length of 6 mm or less. Peri-implant crevicular fluid (PICF) samples will be collected to assess RANKL, OPG, and cathepsin-K levels, along with clinical peri-implant tissue health parameters
Standard Implant Group
Patients receiving dental implants with a length greater than 8 mm. Peri-implant crevicular fluid (PICF) samples will be collected to assess RANKL, OPG, and cathepsin-K levels, along with clinical peri-implant tissue health parameters.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Change in Peri-Implant Crevicular Fluid RANKL Level
Time Frame: Baseline; 1 and 3 months after non-surgical peri-implant therapy in participants who develop peri-implant mucositis.
Receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-B ligand (RANKL) levels in peri-implant crevicular fluid (PICF) will be measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and compared between short and standard implant groups.
Baseline; 1 and 3 months after non-surgical peri-implant therapy in participants who develop peri-implant mucositis.
Change in Peri-Implant Crevicular Fluid OPG Level
Time Frame: Baseline; 1 and 3 months after non-surgical peri-implant therapy in participants who develop peri-implant mucositis.
Osteoprotegerin (OPG) levels in peri-implant crevicular fluid (PICF) will be measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and compared between short and standard implant groups.
Baseline; 1 and 3 months after non-surgical peri-implant therapy in participants who develop peri-implant mucositis.
Change in Peri-Implant Crevicular Fluid Cathepsin K Level
Time Frame: Baseline; 1 and 3 months after non-surgical peri-implant therapy in participants who develop peri-implant mucositis.
Cathepsin K levels in peri-implant crevicular fluid (PICF) will be measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and compared between short and standard implant groups.
Baseline; 1 and 3 months after non-surgical peri-implant therapy in participants who develop peri-implant mucositis.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Change in Peri-Implant Probing Depth
Time Frame: Baseline; 1 and 3 months after non-surgical peri-implant therapy in participants who develop peri-implant mucositis.
Peri-implant probing depth (PPD) will be measured in millimeters using a periodontal probe at six sites around each implant and compared between short and standard implant groups.
Baseline; 1 and 3 months after non-surgical peri-implant therapy in participants who develop peri-implant mucositis.
Change in Peri-Implant Bleeding on Probing
Time Frame: Baseline; 1 and 3 months after non-surgical peri-implant therapy in participants who develop peri-implant mucositis.
Bleeding on probing (BOP) will be assessed following gentle probing around each implant and recorded as the percentage of sites exhibiting bleeding.
Baseline; 1 and 3 months after non-surgical peri-implant therapy in participants who develop peri-implant mucositis.
Change in Peri-Implant Plaque Index
Time Frame: Baseline; 1 and 3 months after non-surgical peri-implant therapy in participants who develop peri-implant mucositis.
Peri-implant plaque accumulation will be evaluated using the Plaque Index (PI) and compared between short and standard implant groups.
Baseline; 1 and 3 months after non-surgical peri-implant therapy in participants who develop peri-implant mucositis.
Change in Gingival Index
Time Frame: Baseline; 1 and 3 months after non-surgical peri-implant therapy in participants who develop peri-implant mucositis.
Peri-implant soft tissue inflammation will be evaluated using the Gingival Index (mGI) and compared between short and standard implant groups.
Baseline; 1 and 3 months after non-surgical peri-implant therapy in participants who develop peri-implant mucositis.

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Inonu University

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Estimated)

September 20, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

December 30, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

December 30, 2026

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

September 10, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

September 15, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

September 18, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

September 18, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

September 15, 2026

Last Verified

September 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Other Study ID Numbers

  • 2026/11007

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

YES

IPD Plan Description

De-identified individual participant data will be shared, including participant age, sex, and clinical periodontal parameters (plaque index, gingival index, probing depth, clinical attachment level, bleeding on probing). Participants will be identified only by coded/numbered case report forms; no names, gender identity beyond biological sex, or other identifying information will be shared.

IPD Sharing Time Frame

Beginning 6 months and ending 24 months following article publication

IPD Sharing Access Criteria

Data will be made available to researchers who provide a methodologically sound proposal, subject to approval by the corresponding author, for the purpose of achieving the aims outlined in the approved proposal.

IPD Sharing Supporting Information Type

  • STUDY_PROTOCOL
  • SAP

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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