Diffuse Sclerosing Osteomyelitis: A Potential Risk Indicator for Peri-implantitis? A Case Series.

Purpose: To propose diffuse osteomyelitis as risk indicator for peri-implantitis following the loss of several dental implants in patients that present with highly sclerotic bone areas.

Materials and methods: A total of six "nightmare cases"-three of which were treated at the Department of Periodontology of the University Hospitals of the Catholic University Leuven and three of which were referred there for a second opinion-were retrospectively analyzed using radiographs obtained via contact with referring clinicians in order to fully reconstruct the treatment pathway and dental history for each of these patients.

Results: All patients suffered from early implant failures and/or severe peri-implantitis with bone loss and crater formation up to the apical level, as well as the loss of all or nearly all implants. Re-examination of their preand postoperative CBCTs, in combination with several bone biopsies, confirmed the diagnosis of a diffuse sclerosing osteomyelitis in the treated area. Osteomyelitis could be linked to a longstanding history of chronic and/or therapyresistant periodontal/endodontic pathology.

Conclusion: The current retrospective case series seems to suggest that diffuse osteomyelitis should be considered as a risk indicator for severe peri-implantitis. Int J Oral Maxillofac Implants 2023;38:503-515. doi: 10.11607/jomi.9773.