CLINICAL AND RADIOGRAPHIC ASPECTS OF PERI-IMPLANTITIS DISEASES: A CASE REPORT

Abstract

The peri-implantitis is a disease related to an inflammatory reaction in peri-implant supporting tissues with loss of supporting bone. Studies show that this disease looks similar to a start and progress of a periodontal disease. This paper aims to report a peri-implantitis clinical case with a clinical and radiographic approach of a 58 years old patient, ex-smoker, returned 3 years after the implant was fitted reporting pain on the right side where the implants were located, bad taste and breath in her mouth. The clinical findings showed an increase in the probing depth and a bone rarefaction in the radiography, suggestive of peri-implant tissue reabsorption and damaging that are compatible with peri-implantitis indicators. After the diagnosis, the compromised implant was removed, there was a curettage in the bone tissue, and another implant was fitted. Nowadays the patient is being monitored periodically, and it was not found any indicators of osseointegration failure. Although the peri-implantitis is similar to periodontitis, the differences between the periodontal and peri-implant tissues imply the necessity of a periodical monitoring to evaluate the tissues' response to the new procedure and the implant's functionality. Identifying pathological changes at the implant site is manageable and could be reverted with early intervention. The implementation of an effective therapy to control peri-implant diseases might lead to restored and suitable bone and mucosal tissues ready to get new implants with no harm to the osseointegration process.