Non-surgical treatment of peri-implant mucositis and peri-implantitis at two-piece zirconium implants: A clinical follow-up observation after up to 3ￂ years

Objectives To assess the long-term clinical outcomes following non-surgical therapy of peri-implant diseases at two-piece zirconium implants. Material and Methods A total of 27 patients suffering from either (i) peri-implant mucositis (n = 24 implants), or (ii) peri-implantitis (n = 16 implants) completed a mean follow-up period of 32.8 ± 2.85 months (median: 34 months). The initial treatment procedures included (i) mechanical debridement + local antiseptic therapy using chlorhexidine digluconate (MD + CXH), or (ii) Er:YAG laser monotherapy (ERL). The primary outcome was disease resolution (i.e. absence of bleeding on probing (BOP) at mucositis sites/absence of BOP and probing pocket depths (PD) ≥6 mm at peri-implantitis sites). Results Resolution of peri-implant mucositis and peri-implantitis was obtained in 7/14 (50.0%; p = .003) and 5/13 (38.5%; p = .001) of the patients investigated. This corresponded to 54.2% (13/24) and 50.0% (8/16) at the implant level respectively. Conclusion Both MD + CHX and ERL were effective on the long-term, but failed to achieve a complete disease resolution.