Peri-implantitis: Classification and Therapy - Prof. Frank Schwarz

This presentation will address peri-implantitis, a plaque-associated disease around implants that leads to inflammation and progressive bone loss. The prevalence of the condition, affecting up to one in five implants, will be outlined together with the main causes, including bacterial biofilm, smoking, systemic disease, poor hygiene, and prosthetic factors. The disease process will be described, showing how the host response to microbial challenge results in pocket formation and bone resorption similar to periodontitis.

Clinical characteristics such as bleeding on probing, suppuration, increased probing depth, and radiographic bone loss will be presented, with implant mobility highlighted as a late feature. The importance of early diagnosis using probing and imaging will be emphasized, and strategies for prevention through maintenance programs and patient education will be discussed. Finally, treatment approaches ranging from non-surgical debridement to surgical resective or regenerative therapy will be reviewed, along with the prognosis and circumstances under which implant removal may be necessary.