Peri-Implantitis: A Comprehensive Overview for the General Dental Practitioner

Considering the significant role of implants in contemporary dentistry, practitioners must be able to acknowledge and anticipate the clinical signs and the appropriate treatment measures of peri-implant disease. The article aims to provide an overview of peri-implantitis, outlining its prevalence, etiology, risk factors, diagnosis, and management for the general practitioner. Peri-implantitis is a pathological condition usually associated with plaque. It exhibits inflammation around the peri-implant mucosa and subsequent progressive bone loss. While some patients show clinical signs, most implants exhibiting peri-implant disease are asymptomatic. As a result, clinicians must first develop an accurate diagnosis based on clinical and radiographic findings. The diagnosis of peri-implantitis usually done if the following criteria are met: 1) presence of bleeding, 2) progressive bone loss, and 3) increased probing depths. It is widely accepted that peri-implantitis is difficult to manage and prevention is the best form of treatment. Early diagnosis and management are essential to the successful clinical outcomes in the treatment of peri-implantitis. While non-surgical treatment may not always be effective but should always come first in patients with advanced peri-implantitis. Good oral hygiene, the location of the damaged implant, and the configuration of the bone defect, appear to be the key factors that influence the clinical predictability surgical interventions.