Objectives: To assess the clinical and radiographic outcomes of implants treated by means of non-surgical debridement with systemic antibiotic therapy.
Materials and methods: A prospective case series study evaluating the 12-month clinical and radiographic outcomes of peri-implantitis lesions treated with ultrasonic scaler debridement, a glycine air abrasive, and metronidazole followed by supportive maintenance. Clinical and radiographic variables and success criteria were defined a priori.
Results: Overall, 21 patients were included. One implant failed during the study period (implant survival rate 95.24%). Substantial changes occurred at 12 months in all the clinical and radiographic variables, reaching strong statistical significance in the majority of them. According to the success criteria applied, 40.90% of the peri-implantitis were arrested and resolved, while 59.1% presented with at least one probed site with bleeding on probing (BoP). Moreover, 95.45% exhibited peri-implant pocket depth (PPD) < 5 mm at the end of the study. None of the implants presented with progressive bone loss.
Conclusion: Non-surgical therapy of peri-implantitis is effective to arrest progressive bone loss, reduce PPD and suppuration, and achieve radiographic bone fill in the majority of cases. Nevertheless, it failed to be completely efficacious in the achievement of successful therapeutic outcomes as BoP remained frequently present.
Clinical relevance: Non-surgical therapy achieved significant clinical and radiological improvements.
Keywords: Dental implants; Infection; Non-surgical intervention; Peri-implant bone loss; Peri-implant infection; Peri-implantitis.