Abstract:
Peri-implant diseases result from chronic inflammatory
processes within the tissues surrounding an intra-oral
implant. The incidence of the disease is increasing at an
alarming rate. Bacterial infections are amongst the several
factors that may play roles in the pathogenesis of periimplant
diseases. The imbalance between the bacterial
biofilm and the host response often leads to tissue
destruction. Morphological similarities do exist between
the gingiva around teeth and that around the implant,
but structural differences in these tissues may possibly
influence the host response, and be the reason for the
destructive and progressive peri-implant tissue loss. New
challenges lie in the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of
peri-implant diseases. This overview focuses on whether
the diagnostic criteria used to assess the periodontium
can also be applied to peri-implant tissues.
