Massimo Frosecchi: Peri-implantitis and Mucositis - Understand the Phenomenon, Prevention and Treatment Possibilities with Evolute Protocols
Mucositis and peri-implantitis represent some of most frequent complications in implant dentistry. The etiology and pathogenesis are still being discussed, but some factors involved have been clearly identified.
Several factors can influence the onset and the progression of peri-implantitis, with many similarities to periodontitis, but also with some implant-specific aspects. The prevention of biological complications seems to be very effective, and at the moment represents the best level of intervention for clinicians.
A correct diagnosis is not very easy to achieve, but it’s a mandatory and complex decisional analysis for choosing the correct treatment approach. At the moment there is no evidence-based protocol of treatment for peri-implant disease, but most authors indicate the following points for a possible treatment approach: infection control, decontamination of the implant surface, management of hard and soft tissue, and specific follow up.
Lasers represent one of the most promising groups of tools in the treatment of mucositis and peri-implantitis. Lasers can be useful in the initial treatment, during the surgical stage and in the post-op period. In particular, the erbium laser can be extremely effective in hard- and soft-tissue surgery and for decontaminating the implant surface.
