Journal Article

Retrospective Evaluation of Peri‐Implant Maintenance in Patients With Implant‐Supported Fixed Prostheses

Valkenburg, Cees, Maghsoudi, Poyan, Weijden, Fridus (G. A.) van der, Gunne, Lotte Pull ter

2025

Overview

Dental implants have emerged as a dependable solution for replacing missing teeth, boasting high survival rates. Nonetheless, implant placement marks only the initiation of a lifelong maintenance protocol. Ensuring the long-term success of dental implants hinges on the essential preservation of peri-implant tissue health and is dependent on patient compliance, which is considered a critical determinant in supportive care. The purpose of this study is to retrospectively analyze peri-implant mucosal aspects from the time of baseline assessment to a follow-up period of 3.5-4.5 years. This retrospective analysis included follow-ups of 68 patients who received one or multiple dental implants between 2011 and 2016. Baseline assessment took place around 8 weeks after placement of the final restoration to assess the peri-implant condition clinically and radiographically. Peri-implant bleeding on probing (PiBOP), peri-implant probing pocket depth (PiPPD), and gingival recession were recorded during every visit. Implant-level analysis of PiBOP showed an increase from 31% at baseline to 48% at the follow-up appointment ( < 0.001). The average PiPPD at implant level was 3.2 mm at baseline and increased to 3.5 mm ( < 0.001). Male patients presented with significantly higher PiPPD values compared to female patients (implant level: =0.017, patient level: =0.039). There was no apparent difference in PiPPD between the group with a restoration with an emergence angle <30° or ≥30° ( =0.912). Peri-implant conditions remained fairly stable after the follow-up period. More effort needs to be made to improve the adherence of patients to peri-implant maintenance care.

• Publisher: Wiley