Screwed up: Implants with bad hygiene

As the prevalence of implants grows as a popular choice to replace natural teeth, so do their problems. Implant failure is on the rise, and the number one reason for that is peri-implantitis, which is caused by excessive biofilm. The only way to remove this biofilm is to help patients create an easy at-home regimen. The problem is that implants are often placed into the mouths of patients who more than likely lost their natural tooth (or teeth) due to poor oral hygiene for years. Similar to most oral issues, implant failure begins with poor home care. Although the tooth has now been replaced, the problem still remains. Helping patients understand that implant failure happens for the same reasons their natural tooth failed is critical to long-term implant success. As dental professionals, we need to equip patients with the right tools and information the moment they become a candidate for implant placement. Let’s investigate methods that help to manage implants and the onset of peri-implant disease.

Before the implant is placed

Patients who lost their natural teeth due to poor oral hygiene need to understand that without reform, the same problem will likely persist. We could apply the logic that many orthodontic practices use prior to treatment—the patient has to “prove” that they are able to keep their teeth clean. If not, treatment is delayed until they are able to show improvement. Similar to orthodontics, patient compliance determines the success of an implant. Implants pose a particular challenge from the beginning since we are asking those who have poor oral hygiene not to brush or floss the surgical site for several weeks while it heals. This simply reinforces the bad habits that were already in place.

Related reading: 

• Dental implant maintenance to reduce peri-implantitis risk
• Dental implants versus fixed prostheses
• Is an implant better than a tooth?

To ensure long-term success of an implant and prevention of peri-implantitis, one of the most important tasks for a patient is the management of biofilm (dental plaque). Several studies report that biofilm is the key etiological factor in the development and progression of peri-implant infections.^1,2 Products such as toothpaste, floss, water irrigators, interdental brushes, etc. provide mechanical means of removal; they don’t have the therapeutic abilities of being able to break up biofilm or kill bacteria (and other pathogens). Around an implant specifically, biofilm can be hard to remove because it is hard to access with normal brushing and flossing. So something with therapeutic benefits and the ability to access hard-to-reach areas must be used.

Maintaining implant health

There are a number of clinical interventions to aid in the treatment of peri-implant diseases, but prevention and early detection of issues are key to successful outcomes.³ Overall poor health, poor dental health, and infection are all reasons implants can fail in the early stages of placement. Therefore, maintaining healthy hard and soft tissues surrounding the implant is critical, because the tissues act as biological barriers in preventing peri-implant disease.¹

The microorganisms linked to peri-implant disease are quite similar to those that cause periodontitis.⁴ These include bacteria, viruses, fungi, volatile sulfur compounds, and biofilm. Just like in periodontal disease, the pathogens become more complex as they mature and are left behind in uncleaned, undisrupted areas of the mouth. This makes them harder to remove with time, resulting in peri-mucositis, the initial infection that presents around a poorly cared-for implant. This can be reversed as opposed to more aggressive, irreversible peri-implantitis. As dental professionals, it is our job to help prevent the onset of this disease and guide patients in the tools that they need to achieve the best results.

Reducing the risk for implant failure

So how can we help? Protection for implants needs to begin during the healing process. Ideally the protection would begin during surgery, using therapeutic agents to help reduce contaminants in the surgical site. Then patients should continue to keep the area clean using a rinse, since they can’t use mechanical means of disruption during this phase. This will not only create a more ideal environment for healing, but will also reinforce the need for the specialized care of their newest addition. A rinse could aid in providing long-term maintenance for the implant.