What Is Peri-Implantitis?
Peri-implantitis is a two-stage condition:
Stage 1: Peri-Implant Mucositis
Inflammation of the soft tissue (gums) around the implant without bone loss. Symptoms include redness, swelling, and bleeding when probing. This is the reversible stage β professional cleaning and improved hygiene resolve it.
Stage 2: Peri-Implantitis
If mucositis is not treated, the inflammation progresses to the underlying bone, causing progressive bone loss around the implant. Without treatment, the implant eventually loses enough support to fail.
Think of it as "gum disease for implants." Just as periodontitis destroys the bone around natural teeth, peri-implantitis destroys the bone around implants.
Risk Factors
- Poor oral hygiene β The #1 cause. Plaque and bacteria accumulate around implants just like natural teeth.
- History of periodontitis β Patients who lost teeth to gum disease are at higher risk.
- Smoking β Impairs immune response and blood flow to gum tissue.
- Diabetes β Uncontrolled diabetes increases susceptibility to infections.
- Residual cement β Excess dental cement left under the prosthesis can cause chronic irritation. Fusion's precision lab work minimizes this risk.
Treatment Approaches
Non-Surgical (Early Stage)
- Professional cleaning and debridement
- Antimicrobial rinses (chlorhexidine)
- Local antibiotic delivery
- Oral hygiene instruction and improvement
Surgical (Advanced Stage)
- Surgical access for thorough debridement
- Implant surface decontamination
- Bone grafting to regenerate lost bone
- Guided bone regeneration membranes
If Treatment Fails
Implant removal, site healing, bone grafting, and eventual replacement. At Fusion, our specialists have extensive experience treating and managing peri-implantitis, including cases from other providers.
Why Patients Choose Fusion Dental Implants
- βIn-House Lab & Same-Day Results β Our on-site lab crafts your custom zirconia prosthetics, so you can walk out with a new smile the same day. No waiting weeks for an outside lab.
- βLifetime Warranty on Zirconia β We stand behind our work with a lifetime structural warranty on all full-arch zirconia restorations. If it cracks or breaks under normal use, we replace it free.
- βPrice-Match Guarantee β Because we own our lab and employ our specialists directly, we keep costs lower than corporate chains. We'll match any competitor's quote for comparable treatment.

