Post-Surgical Implant Care

By Anna M. Pattison, RDH, MS, Joyce Y. Sumi, RDH, MS

Dental hygienists are key members of the oral care team in the post-treatment phase of implant therapy. The current scientific literature concludes that regular maintenance therapy with thorough debridement of biofilm and hard deposits is important for long-term implant health.^1—9 In 2013, the American Academy of Periodontology (AAP) reported that 6% to 47% of implants show evidence of peri-implant mucositis or peri-implantitis.³ Professional maintenance appointment intervals should be at least one time to four times per year to ensure early detection and treatment of inflammation around implants.^2,3,7 Jepsen et al¹⁰ found that 43.9% of patients with peri-implant mucositis who did not receive regular supportive care developed peri-implantitis, while only 18% of patients receiving consistent maintenance care progressed to peri-implantitis.

* References can be found in the original article via the link below.
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