A clinical and microbiological investigation of peri-implant infections

Abstract

Osseointegrated oral implants are becoming increasingly more common in restorative dentistry as permanent replacements for lost or missing teeth. Peri-implant infections are a significant area of treatment need but the current evidence base for treatment is low. Peri-implant and periodontal infections share many similarities including clinical and pathological features and both have a microbial aetiology. There is growing evidence that patients with an increased susceptibility to periodontal disease have an increased susceptibility to peri-implantitis, very likely associated with oral bacterial microflora dynamics. The present study was undertaken to further investigate clinical and microbial aspects of peri-implantitis and periodontitis in a cohort of patients attending the Dublin Dental Unversity Hospital.