Peri-Implant disease is serious inflammatory condition that affects the hard and soft gum tissues around dental implants. Just like with a natural tooth, bacteria can build up below the gum line, along the base of an implant. This can be caused by poor oral hygiene, diabetes, smoking, a compromised immune system, bite misalignment, an allergic reaction to the implant itself, or a history of periodontitis.
Studies suggest that as many as 20% of people with implants develop peri-implant. Peri-implant disease presents as red, swollen and possibly bleeding gum tissue around an implant. There may also be a deepening of the periodontal pockets surrounding the implant, visibility, and exposure of the underlying threads of the implant, loosening of the implant, and the presence of pus emitting from the tissues around the implant.
