The era of one million implants—are you now battling implant failure?

Say goodbye to implant concerns with GBT!

Implant-related diseases are generally categorized into two main types: peri-implant mucositis and peri-implantitis. There are various reasons for implant restoration, but studies have shown that implants may fail due to gum disease, especially in cases where they were placed after tooth loss due to periodontitis. Peri-implantitis, which involves bone loss, typically follows the stage of peri-implant mucositis. The symptoms of mucositis are similar to those of gingivitis in natural teeth, including gum bleeding without the loss of connective tissue around the implant. Early treatment is crucial to restore the gums to a healthy state. During examination, patients with mucositis may show significant subgingival plaque or foreign substances like implant cement. It is important to check for inflammation by assessing bleeding on probing (BOP) and using an explorer (ODU #11/12) for subgingival probing, ensuring no damage is caused to the gingival epithelium and the implant.

The Importance of Early Maintenance and Self-Care Education

Removing the causes of mucositis and providing comprehensive oral hygiene education that enables patients to manage their oral health effectively is key to extending the lifespan of implants. Therefore, implants should be regularly monitored and maintained through early professional intervention, including regular dental visits, Supportive Periodontal Treatment (SPT), and personalized tooth brushing education.

The Key to Implant Maintenance: Biofilm Removal

The core of implant maintenance lies in identifying and removing biofilm, the primary cause of implant-related complications. To do this, it is essential to assess bone loss around the implant and check for inflammation using X-rays. This should include panoramic imaging and periapical images using the parallel technique. A thorough evaluation of implant mobility, pain presence, residual cement, and the distribution of calculus is necessary. Such comprehensive examinations are vital to accurately understanding the patient's oral health status. In cases where peri-implantitis with bone loss is present, appropriate periodontal treatment and antibiotics are required to alleviate inflammation. Following this, continuous implant maintenance through customized recall intervals and oral hygiene education is critical. However, many still rely solely on Professional Teeth Cleaning (PTC), which aims to keratinize the gingival epithelium rather than thoroughly remove biofilm. Consequently, even with professional care, residual biofilm may lead to ongoing inflammation.
 

GBT^®: Setting a New Standard for Implant Maintenance 

GBT^® is an optimized tool for implant maintenance that goes beyond improving oral health; it plays a critical role in ensuring lifelong oral health. Both dentists and dental hygienists should take an active interest in using these tools. Even with busy chair time schedules, it is essential to implement maintenance programs and incorporate the latest technologies, such as AIRFLOW^® and other advanced equipment, to enhance the effectiveness of implant maintenance. Regular dental visits and personalized maintenance education are crucial for a preventive approach to patient care. Implant maintenance should be recognized not just as a treatment but as an integral part of ensuring the lifelong health of both patients and dental professionals.

In the USA and Canada, the GBT demo is only available online, unless agreed otherwise with the GBT Expert.

E.M.S. Electro Medical Systems cares about your privacy.

By providing your information to E.M.S. Electro Medical Systems you are accepting and consenting that we process your personal data according to the practices described in our Privacy Policy. We will use your personal data to provide you with the requested service or information. You can revoke this consent at any time.