Peri-implant maintenance begins when implant treatment is planned and continues after loading. It combines patient plaque control, professional assessment, risk management and timely treatment. Implant survival alone does not confirm tissue health.
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Establish a post-restoration baseline
After prosthesis delivery and tissue maturation, document restoration design, cleansability, probing findings, bleeding or suppuration, mucosal margin, occlusion and an appropriate baseline radiograph. Later changes are meaningful when compared with this baseline.
Supportive peri-implant visit
- Update medical history, smoking, diabetes and periodontal status.
- Assess plaque control and whether the prosthesis permits home care.
- Record probing depth, bleeding and suppuration with controlled force.
- Assess mobility; distinguish implant mobility from a loose component.
- Review occlusion, screws, cement excess, fracture and cleansability.
- Use radiographs when findings or scheduled comparison justify exposure.
- Treat mucositis promptly and investigate progressive bone loss.
Peri-implant monitoring table
| Finding | Significance | Response |
|---|---|---|
| No bleeding, suppuration or progressive bone loss | Clinical stability | Continue personalised care |
| Bleeding with inflammation | Possible peri-implant mucositis | Improve access, control biofilm and reassess |
| Suppuration, deeper probing or bone loss | Possible peri-implantitis | Complete diagnosis and treat or refer |
| Prosthesis limits cleaning | Persistent local risk | Modify access or design where feasible |
| Implant or restoration mobility | Biological or mechanical complication | Differentiate urgently |
Individualise the interval
Recall reflects previous periodontitis, inflammation, plaque control, smoking, diabetes, prosthetic design, implant position and adherence. A stable low-risk implant and a poorly cleansable full-arch restoration do not require identical schedules. Coordinate supportive implant care with maintenance of the remaining dentition.
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