Implantoplasty Enhancing Peri-implant Bone Stability Over a 3-Year Follow-up: A Case Series

Implantoplasty has been claimed as a promising strategy to treat peri-implantitis and prevent progressive peri-implant bone loss. Consequently, the aim of the present case series is to exhibit the clinical outcomes of a 3-year-follow-up resective and implantoplasty therapy applying a novel platform-switch concept to preserve peri-implant tissue integrity and counteract progressive bone loss. Four patients who underwent dental implant therapy and were diagnosed with periimplantitis were treated through access flap surgery, a modified implantoplasty, bone recontouring, and surface decontamination. The radiographic and clinical parameters recorded before and during the 3-year follow-up were: marginal bone loss (MBL) as the primary endpoint, bleeding on probing index (BOP), probing depth (PD), presence of suppuration, pain, mobility, and fracture. The 3-year follow-up exhibited peri-implant bone stability in all cases (100%) showing radiographically an MBL reduction (mean) of 0.8 ± 0.5 mm (mesial) and 0.5 ± 0.3 mm (distal). Mean PD reduction was 4.75 ± 1 mm and mean BOP was reduced by 71%. Pain and suppuration were resolved in all cases. None of the cases reported implant fracture or mobility after the modified implantoplasty therapy. The present case series demonstrated that this modified implantoplasty can be more than a surface decontamination therapy where the narrow and smooth exposed implant surface can counteract peri-implantitis alterations providing favorable biologic conditions to maintain stability of peri-implant tissues.