Disease recurrence during supportive therapy following peri-implantitis treatment: A retrospective study

Supportive therapy is key to prevent disease recurrence after peri-implantitis treatment. The primary objective was to quantify disease recurrence during supportive peri-implant therapy (SPIT) after peri-implantitis treatment. A secondary objective was to assess the success/failure of cumulative interceptive supportive therapy (CIST) after peri-implantitis treatment.

Compliers (whether regular or erratic) with SPIT after peri-implantitis treatment during ≥12 months were retrospectively evaluated. CIST was prescribed whenever residual pockets ≥6 mm concomitant with profuse bleeding on probing (disease recurrence) were identified. Patient- and implant-related factors were analyzed to explore their associations with disease recurrence and the need for CIST.

Disease recurrence was considered in 28 patients (40 implants). Of these, 14 patients (23 implants) further demonstrated radiographic evidence of progressive bone loss (≥1 mm). This represented an overall disease recurrence following peri-implantitis treatment of ~20% and ~ 10% at patient and implant levels, respectively. Smokers, patients diagnosed at baseline with periodontitis grade C, and males were significantly more prone to exhibit recurrence. Patients undergoing CIST due to instability were not likely to respond favorably (~70% continued to exhibit residual pockets).

Disease recurrence during SPIT following peri-implantitis treatment on selected cases is ~20%. Patients undergoing CIST due to instability are not likely to respond favorably.