Treatment of the failing implant: case reports

Three case reports of treatment of the failing implant are presented. The implants were immobile but had lost a significant amount of osseous support. The cause of failure was determined to be a combination of bacterial and occlusal traumatogenic insult. The defects were debrided and the implant surface was detoxified with tetracycline. Decalcified freeze-dried bone allograft was implanted in the osseous defects and covered with expanded polytetrafluoroethylene material in accordance with principles of guided tissue regeneration. The barrier membrane was removed 6 to 8 weeks after placement. Eight months to 1 year posttreatment, all sites demonstrated a substantial reduction in probing depth, a gain in clinical attachment, and bone fill of the defects adjacent to the implant.