Diagnosis and treatment of peri-implant disease

With the increased use of osseointegrated implants and with many implants functioning for long periods of time, various complications have been reported. This paper reviews progressive loss of peri-implant bone--one of the major concerns during the function period of implants. The recognition and treatment of peri-implant bone loss around functioning implants is a major challenge for the clinician. Diagnostic techniques, such as probing pocket depth, radiographic tools, and microbial sampling have been modified from the periodontal arena and used during the maintenance phase of the dental implant. The long-term goals in the treatment of peri-implant disease are to arrest the progression of the disease and to achieve a maintainable site for the patient's implant. Recent reports indicate that peri-implant bony defects can be treated with either nonsurgical or surgical techniques. Bone regeneration is possible in selected peri-implant bony defects when appropriate surgical techniques are used, implant surface preparation is achieved, and the cause is eradicated.