Oral Hygiene of the Dental Implant Area

Overview

Treatment by means of dental implants is an effective way how to treat dentaldefects. Based on histological examinations we cannot speak of the gingiva surrounding theimplant but of the periimplantation mucosa. The term periimplantation disease comprisesinflammatory reactions in the area surrounding the implants. If only the soft tissues are affectedreversibly, the term periimplantation mucositis is used. If it is associated with loss of thesurrounding supporting bone of the functionally burdened implant, perimplantitis is involved.According to one theory of the genesis of perimplantitis dental plaque is the etiological factor.Regular check up visits of dental hygiene, evaluation of the quality of bone and soft tissues inthe close vicinity of the implant, evaluation of the suprastructure and repeated motivation ofthe patient are called recall. Hygienic care has two basic stages – domestic and professional.Domestic care is implemented after detailed instruction using several minor aids and is asindividual as possible. Professional hygienic care is part of the recall. Its most important partis as a rule repeated positive motivation.

Key words:
periimplantation mucosa – periimplantitis – recall – oral hygiene