News on implantology

Inflammation of the tissue around an implant is the most common late complication in implantology. According to studies, between 20 and 43 per cent of all implant patients develop peri-implantitis requiring treatment within ten years.

The new guideline from the European Federation of Periodontology therefore starts earlier than one might expect: prevention begins with treatment planning, not with the first aftercare appointment. Existing periodontitis has to be treated and stable before the procedure. Smoking and poorly controlled blood sugar count as modifiable risks that belong on the table beforehand.

The position of the implant matters too: if it sits where it cannot be cleaned properly, inflammation is a foregone conclusion. For patients that means asking before the procedure how they are supposed to keep the implant clean afterwards. Anyone who does not get a convincing answer should seek a second opinion.

Source: European Federation of Periodontology: Clinical Guidelines