Prevalence of peri-implant diseases. A cross-sectional study based on a private practice environment

To determine the prevalence of peri-implant diseases in private practice patients enrolled in a periodontal maintenance programme.

A cross-sectional study was carried out in patients with dental implants attending the dental clinic to comply with a periodontal maintenance programme between January and June 2010. Implants with at least 1 year of loading time (range: 1-18 years) were included. A patient-based prevalence analysis of peri-implant diseases was carried out. Additionally, implants were classified into the following categories: healthy, clinically stable, mucositis and peri-implantitis.

A total of 245 patients (964 dental implants) were analysed. Implant and patient-based peri-implantitis prevalences were 9.1% [95% confidence interval (95%CI): 7.5-11.1%] and 16.3% [95%CI: 12.2-21.5%] respectively. Mucositis affected 21.6% [95%CI: 19.1-24.5%] of the studied implants and 38.8% [95%CI: 33.3-45.4%] of the patients.

The prevalence of peri-implantitis in private practice patients enrolled in a periodontal maintenance programme was estimated to be between 12% and 22%. Almost 40% of the patients had mucositis. These prevalences are similar to those published in University environment samples.