PERI-IMPLANT MUCOSITIS
What is peri-implant mucositis?
Suffering peri-implant mucositis means the patient has a health deficiency in the soft tissues around dental implants. This health deficiency is evidenced through gum inflammation and is mainly caused due to an accumulation of bacterial plaque.
According to scientific study statistics, 8 out of 10 patients who have undergone dental implant treatment will suffer this disease. With regard to implants, half of implants will suffer it at some time.
This disease is very similar to gingivitis, which affects natural teeth. Mucositis also presents a reddening and bleeding of the gums. Peri-implant mucositis’ response during initial and extended periods of exposure to bacterial plaque is the same for implants and teeth, as indicated by scientific studies on the behaviour of initial bacteria colonisation.
When these symptoms appear and once diagnosis is confirmed, treatment must be quick given that the pathology is still reversible at this stage. Otherwise, it could become peri-implantitis and the patient runs the risk of having a failed dental implantology treatment at the centre in Valencia.
All of these reasons increase the importance of the maintenance programme for patients with implants, the main aim of which is to prevent this pathology from developing and early detection of any type of peri-implant disease in order to treat it before it causes irreversible damage.
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Diagnosing peri-implant mucositis
To detect lesions in peri-implant soft tissues, a clinical examination similar to the exam performed on teeth to check for periodontal disease is carried out. The specialist uses different techniques to assess the bleeding upon probing, discharge and probe depth. By doing so, he or she can offer a diagnosis of peri-implant diseases. If the bleeding upon probing is negative, the tissues are considered healthy and stable.
When inflammation and bleeding at drilling exist, this indicates x-rays are required to distinguish between mucositis, which only affects the gums, and peri-implantitis, as this affects the bone providing implants with support.
Causes and symptoms of peri-implant mucositis
As mentioned previously, peri-implant mucositis is caused by an accumulation of bacterial plaque around the implant, resulting in the proliferation of bacteria that cause a series of symptoms starting with inflammation of the gums surrounding the implant, reddening and bleeding.
There are risk factors that make the causes of its appearance multiply. These include poor oral hygiene as many patients believe less care is required for an artificial tooth, when in reality it requires greater care and maintenance.
Other factors constitute risks. Two of these are tobacco and implant-based prostheses with a design that makes correct cleaning by the patient more difficult.
Treating peri-implant mucositis
We insist that a patient with implants must be much more rigorous in their oral hygiene routine than a patient who still has all his or her teeth. This is because, once infected, the bacteria take hold on implants much easier than natural teeth. Furthermore, there is the risk that this bacteria will accumulate and start to form neighbouring pockets in an oxygen-starved environment, which contributes to the proliferation of anaerobic, pathogenic bacteria.
For this reason, before inserting implants the oral biofilm must be controlled using the periodontal treatment necessary via mechanical and chemical techniques with a chlorhexidine and cetylpyridinium chloride base. The patient must have a good level of oral hygiene before implant treatment in order to prevent subsequent issues, such as peri-implant diseases.
In cases where peri-implant mucositis is diagnosed, the specialist will use mechanical techniques (such as curettes and ultrasounds) to remove the infection, but without damaging the neck of the implant.
The use of antiseptics – mainly chlorhexidine mouthwashes – in the following days will serve as a great support to the mechanical treatment performed at the dental clinic.
A permanent, appropriate dental hygiene technique will be key to preventing and eradicating peri-implant mucositis. The patient must dedicate time and attention to his or her hygiene to prevent this pathology’s development, as well as periodically visit the specialist to guarantee full elimination of any outbreak that may cause the mucositis to reappear.
EAt our dental clinic in Valencia we are specialists in preventing and resolving possible complications resulting from dental implantology. Trust in our authentic professionals and put yourself in our hands!
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