Peri-Implantitis

Implants (metal titanium rods) have fast become the option of choice when faced with conditions involving missing teeth. They provide a suitable fixed solution where you can have teeth that do not have to be taken out like dentures.

Implants and Gum Disease

Like teeth, implants can be affected with gum disease. They can be lost and have the bone deteriorate around them. When this happens, often too much damage has occurred for repeat treatment in this region.

There are, namely, two conditions that can affect Implants:

  • Peri-Implant Mucositis: This is an infection of the soft tissues surrounding an implant.
  • Peri-Implantitis: This is an infection of the bone support surrounding an implant.

Once the gum is infected there becomes a higher risk of bone involvement. Statistics claim that 30 per cent of implant failure is due to a gum disease of the supporting tissues that hold implants in the jaw.

Once there is an infection around an implant, it seems to progress faster than when it is around teeth. For this reason, it is imperative to have a sound post-implant treatment prevention program designed that is unique to the particular case.

How We Can Help

Our unique referral relationships with implantologists help maintain these types of treatments for the long-term success of the implant. We work collaboratively with the implantologist on a treatment plan that facilitates both the supporting bone and gum as well as the ideal implant restorative plan.

Perio-implant integration treatments are best served together with a preventative program to achieve success. One aspect we look at early on in the diagnosis process is the particular risk factors associated with problematic implant treatment. We aim to eliminate these and make the patient aware of these during the assessment process.

Implant Periodontal Risk Factors

Certain aspects tend to exacerbate, if not deteriorate, the condition of implants. These risk factors need to be addressed before the commencement of any implant restorative work.

Some of these risk factors include:

  • Poor Oral Hygiene: Goes on to form a bacterial biofilm which attracts further infection. This, in turn, causes inflammation around the teeth and implants.
  • The Patient’s Dental and Medical History: Social habits can have a negative impact on the outcome of implant treatment, especially related to periodontics. For example, numerous studies show that smoking habits inhibit the healing process and so further deteriorates the implant.
  • Systemic Diseases and Medications: This needs to be carefully evaluated before any implant treatment. Those that form contraindications can include psychiatric instability, recent heart attack or stroke, severe immunosuppression, uncontrolled bleeding, current malignancy therapy, high dose radiation, drug abuse / alcoholism, pregnancy, diabetes that is severely uncontrolled and renal failure. Some medications affect bone metabolism, and so this needs to be looked at carefully before implant treatment.
  • Previous Periodontitis and Infection: This may occur even if no teeth are present, but the patient had periodontal disease in the past. This can affect prognosis. A periodontist can work with you to provide a solution for your periodontal disease.
  • No Mobility of Implant Gum Margin: When the fold of tissue (frenum) that holds the lips in place pulls on the gums, there is increased failure associated which should be assessed early on in during the examination process.

As you can imagine, implant failure concerning gum disease can be a multi-factorial situation. For this reason, it is better to prevent any such occurrence from happening in the first place.

Our unique diagnosis and treatment planning protocols ensure that the treatments are based upon a sound foundation, and any risk factors are clearly identified early on in the process.

Post-Implant Treatment Prevention Program

The cause for gum disease surrounding implants is much the same as for teeth. However, once infected, the disease tends to spread faster with implants. A post-treatment prevention program must be considered at the treatment planning stage. We like to work closely with the referring dentist to ensure this occurs.

Peri-implantitis

There are three stages to ensuring a healthy implant system within the mouth:

  • Pre-Assessment. Before any implant treatment is considered, we need to eliminate any risk factors and make sure the conditions for treatment are conducive for success.
  • Create a prevention program based on the specific needs of the patient’s condition. This home regime and the professional maintenance plan needs to be practical and achievable.
  • Regular reviews are necessary post-implant treatment to ensure no deterioration occurs. This can easily be done by the dentist or the periodontist. We can commence with maintenance therapy as part of this plan.

BOOK A CONSULTATION TODAY

We offer all our dental implant consultations and treatments at our London clinic. You can call us on 020 8506 0701 or fill out the form here for more information on all our treatments.

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