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An implant was determined to be clinically and radiographically failing. The implant was treated as if it were a natural tooth with periodontal disease. The defect around the implant was degranulated and a polytetrafluoroethylene periodontal membrane placed over the implant to cover the defect. The membrane was removed 6 weeks later. A 5-month re-entry found new bone around the implant and the implant could then be used as a prosthetic abutment. Further case studies may prove this to be a predictable procedure to save failing implants.
M J Goldman (1992) studied this question.