Extent of peri‐implantitis‐associated bone loss

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the present study was to describe the extent of peri-implantitis-associated bone loss with regard to implant position. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Patient files and intra-oral radiographs from 182 subjects were analysed. Among the 1070 examined implants, 419 exhibited peri-implantitis-associated bone loss. The position of each implant within the jaw and fixed reconstructions was determined. In the radiographs the distance between the abutment-fixture junction and the most coronal position of bone to implant contact was assessed at the 419 "affected" implants using a magnifying lens (x 7) with a 0.1 mm graded scale. RESULTS: About 40% of the implants in each subject was affected by peri-implantitis-associated bone loss. The proportion of such implants varied between 30% and 52% in different jaw positions and the most common position was the lower front region. In addition, affected implants were found in larger proportions among "mid" than "end" abutments irrespective of supporting fixed complete or fixed partial dentures. CONCLUSION: It is suggested that peri-implantitis occurs in all jaw positions and that an "end"-abutment position in a fixed reconstruction is not associated with an enhanced risk for peri-implantitis.