Peri-implantitis

Peri-implantitis is an inflammation of the tissue and bone around the implant. If the implant was placed in a quality manner and in compliance with all protocols, the probability of encountering this phenomenon is extremely low: according to statistics, about 1 case per 100 implantations, but the problem itself is quite unpleasant and if you do not take measures in time, there is thinning of the bone and loss of the implant.

The main cause of peri-implantitis is bacterial infection, which can occur either during implantation (then the symptoms of peri-implantitis can appear a few days after the procedure) or several months or even years later.

The main causes of infection:

• Improper prosthetic technique
• Mistakes in the implantation process
• Poor-quality implant
• Failure of the patient to follow prescribed hygiene practices
• Ignoring implant care instructions
• Injury to the gum in the implant area

To minimize the risks, the specialists of City Smile Medical Center recommend not to ignore routine check-ups of the implants’ condition

Symptoms of peri-implantitis:

The first symptoms of peri-implantitis are redness and swelling of the gum in the implant area. If you do not consult a specialist in time, the disease progresses: connective tissue grows on the inflamed area, the gum starts to move away from the implant, forming a gingival pocket around the artificial root. Pus can collect in this pocket, followed by a significant loss of bone tissue, the implant begins to wobble, thereby destroying the bone more strongly. Then rejection occurs.

Prevention of peri-implantitis

Peri-implantitis is easier to prevent than to treat, by following simple preventive measures you can minimize the likelihood of this disease. For this purpose it is necessary:

• Good oral hygiene
  Brush your teeth properly, using not only a toothbrush, but also floss and an irrigator to do so
• Regular professional hygiene
  Have a professional oral hygiene at least semi-annually with a dental hygienist.
• Regular check-ups with a doctor
  At least once a year, have a CT scan of the bone checked by the attending physician.
• Choose your doctor and clinic carefully
  If you are considering implants, you should take the choice of clinic seriously. Beware of frankly cheap offers and little-known doctors. Implantation is a serious and complex procedure that requires preliminary diagnosis and planning, appropriate experience of specialists, strict adherence to protocols and quality preparation. The choice of implant system is also of great importance. Cheap implants are always a risk.

Treatment of peri-implantitis

Treatment of peri-implantitis consists of controlling inflammation and restoring lost bone volume.

Steps in the treatment of peri-implantitis

• Diagnosis
  The main diagnostic tool is a CT scan, which allows you to accurately determine the condition of the bone tissue and the area where the disease spreads
• Hygiene
  Using ultrasound, tartar as well as soft deposits are removed from the dental crown and sub-gingival space
• Sanitation
  In surgical sanitation, the pustules are opened and the gingival pockets are mechanically cleansed
• Antibiotic therapy
  Antibiotics are prescribed: local and general antibiotic therapy is performed
• Bone grafting
  If the bone is thinning, bone grafting is performed to restore the necessary volume of tissue
• Treatment monitoring
  At the end of treatment, a follow-up CT scan is necessary to ensure that the treatments have been effective.

Important: the earlier you see a specialist, the better the prognosis! In the early stages of the disease is much easier to manage and avoid unpleasant consequences.