Peri-implantitis is an infection with subsequent bone loss around an implant. The primary cause for the condition is the invasion of oral microbes into the peri-implant tissues, eliciting an inflammatory response that, if left untreated, progresses into a chronic situation. Peri-implant bone lesions are common in the form of crater-like defects around the implant. If the condition is left untreated it often leads to further loss of bone tissue, and eventually there is an imminent risk that the entire implant is lost. In such cases, the jawbone must be regenerated before it is possible to anchor a new implant. This takes a long time and is both demanding and costly for the patient. If peri-implantitis is not treated properly, there is also a risk that adjacent teeth and implants may be affected.
