Oral hygiene

Outcomes of cross‐sectional clinical studies have clearly indicated that biofilm accumulation is associated with the presence of peri‐implant mucositis around osseointegrated dental implants. Ferreira et al. reported on 212 patients treated with three different implant systems and diagnosed with peri‐implant mucositis. All implants had been in function for a period ranging from 6 months to 5 years. The modified plaque index was recorded, and the full‐mouth plaque scores were stratified as good (median score ≤1), poor (median score > 1 and < 2), and very poor (median score ≥2). The authors reported a significant dose‐dependent association between plaque scores and peri‐implant mucositis. The prevalence of peri‐implant mucositis was reported as 64.6% at patient level and 62.6% at implant level. Outcomes of another study involving 218 patients with 999 implants in function for a period of 9 to 14 years indicated that plaque scores were significantly associated with the presence of peri‐implant mucositis.

Mechanical biofilm control should be considered the standard of care for management of peri‐implant mucositis administered either by the patient or the oral healthcare professional.