Peri-implant mucositis and peri-implantitis: bacterial infection.

Osseointegrated dental implants have a ong-term success rate of over 90%, but may be threatened by peri-implant mucostis and peri-implantitis, bacteria biofilm-induced inflammatory conditions. While peri-implant mucositis is a reversible inflammatory condition confined to the peri-implant soft-tissue unit, peri-implantitis is characterised by progressive inflammatory destruction of the crest of the alveolar bone supporting the implant, by increased peri-implant probing depths, and by bleeding and/or suppuration on probing. Effective treatment of peri-implant mucositis will prevent the development of peri-implantitis. Plaque accumulation on the implant/abutment surface juxtaposed to the junctional epithelium and to the connective tissue zone of the peri-implant soft-tissue unit induces the development of peri-implant mucositis which can subsequently progress to peri-implantitis. The aim of this paper is to review some aspects of bacterial infection of the tissue supporting dental implants, and to explore how to maintain the healthy peri-implant soft-tissue unit.