A methodological evaluation of the immunohistochemistry techniques for peri-implant tissues. A systematic review

Immunohistochemistry is a technique used to detect specific antigens in tissue samples through antigen-antibody interactions. Understanding the effectiveness and limitations of immunohistochemistry is crucial for evaluating the clinical and biological implications of dental implants. This systematic review synthesizes evidence on the immunohistochemical characteristics of peri-implant tissues including the identification of laboratory methodologies and their reliability, with a particular focus on the selection of antibodies for the detection of key immunohistochemical markers and factors that influence the immunohistochemical profile of peri-implant tissues. Randomized and non-randomized studies using immunohistochemistry during the processing of peri-implant samples were included. The step-by-step process of the immunohistochemistry technique was the primary outcome of interest. Several databases were searched to identify relevant human studies published up to January 2026. Extracted data was organized into tables to generate a qualitative analysis. Most identified studies indicated that peri-implant tissues from diseased dental implants exhibited greater inflammatory activity, hypoxia, neovascularization, and marginal bone resorption than healthy peri-implant tissues through immunohistochemistry. Nonetheless, methodological differences, particularly in antibody selection, challenge the standardization and reproducibility of results across studies. Immunohistochemistry proves to be an effective tool for characterizing peri-implant tissues, distinguishing between healthy and inflamed states such as peri-implantitis. Future studies should focus on validating antibodies and standardizing protocols to enhance the reliability and clinical applicability of immunohistochemistry in assessing peri-implant conditions.