Treatment of periimplant mucositis: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials

To determine the most effective treatment for periimplant mucositis in patients with dental implants compared with a control group.

A PubMed (MEDLINE) literature search was made of articles published up until October 2013. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were stratified according to their level of quality using the Jadad scale and levels of evidence (University of Oxford).

The combinations of search terms resulted in a list of 371 titles. Of these, 114 references were finally reviewed. Finally, 7 RCTs fulfilled the inclusion criteria and were thus selected for inclusion in the systematic review. Chlorhexidine, the administration of azithromycin, and glycine powder air polishing are not effective for the treatment of periimplant mucositis. The only effective treatment seems to be the use of toothpaste with 0.3% triclosan.

Definitions of periimplant mucositis vary in the literature, and no clear criteria have been established regarding the diagnosis and treatment of this disorder. It highlights our lack of uniform treatment and need to establish additional research to fully provide effective treatments for this common condition. More, larger, and longer-term RCTs are needed in this periimplant disease.