Biological complications with dental implants: their prevention, diagnosis and treatment

Biofilms form on all hard non-shedding surfaces in a fluid system, i.e. both on teeth and oral implants. As a result of the bacterial challenge, the host responds by mounting a defence mechanism leading to inflammation of the soft tissues. In the dento-gingival unit, this results in the well-described lesion of gingivitis. In the implanto-mucosal unit, this inflammation is termed "mucositis". If plaque is allowed to accumulate for prolonged periods of time, experimental research has demonstrated that "mucositis" may develop into "periimplantitis" affecting the periimplant supporting bone circumferentially. Although the bony support may be lost coronally, the implant still remains osseointegrated and hence, clinically stable. This is the reason why mobility represents an insensitive, but specific diagnostic feature of "periimplantitis". More sensitive and more reliable parameters of developing and existing periimplant infections are "bleeding on probing", "probing depths" and radiographic interpretation of conventional or subtraction radiographs. Depending on the diagnosis made continuously during recall visits, a maintenance system termed Cumulative Interceptive Supportive Therapy (CIST) has been proposed.