Importance of Supportive Peri-Implant Therapy

It is well-established that in the case of successful periodontal treatment, ongoing supportive periodontal therapy is essential to maintain health, prevent periodontal reinfection, reduce the risk of disease recurrence, and decrease the incidence of tooth loss.^144-147 Similarly, supportive peri-implant therapy both prior to any diagnosis of peri-implant disease and after treatment of peri-implant mucositis or peri-implantitis is critical to long-term implant success.^17,148 Patients who did not receive supportive peri-implant therapy, including ongoing surveillance for peri-implant disease, were over twice as likely to develop peri-implant mucositis and four times more likely to develop peri-implantitis than those who were compliant with at least annual supportive implant therapy over a 7 year period.¹⁴⁸ Given these findings, clinicians should discuss the need for supportive peri-implant therapy with patients during implant treatment planning and should utilize risk-based protocols¹⁴⁹ for maintenance interval selection after implant placement and restoration.