Maintenance of Dental Implants: A Review

Successful bonding of a dental implant to bone, which was referred to as osseointegration by Branemark has been well documented. However, long-term prognosis of an implant depends on adequate maintenance and long-term care. An effective maintenance program is required to preserve the health of peri-implant tissues. Several techniques have been suggested for this purpose; but it is not clear which is more efficient. Review of Literature: This review evaluates the literature regarding implant care and factors affecting the peri-implant soft tissue and describes the required measures for assessment of peri-implant status and treatment of reversible peri-implant diseases. Data shows that several measures can be taken to maintain the health of peri-implant tissue and ensure the long-term prognosis of dental implants.