What Is Peri-Implantitis? Signs, Causes, and Treatment

Reviewed by Dr. Kerri Font, DDS

Reading time: four minutes

Dental implants are designed to function like natural teeth, but the tissues around them can still develop complications. One of the most common implant-related complications is peri-implantitis. Early diagnosis and treatment can help prevent more serious damage to the surrounding tissues.

Table of Contents

What Is Peri-Implantitis?

Peri-implantitis is an inflammatory condition that affects the gum tissue and bone around a dental implant. It develops when bacteria collect around the implant and trigger inflammation that spreads into the supporting bone.

Peri-implantitis is often compared to gum disease because both conditions involve bacterial buildup, inflamed tissues, and loss of bone support. The difference is that peri-implantitis affects the tissue around a dental implant instead of a natural tooth.

As bone support decreases, the implant may become less stable. In advanced cases, the implant can loosen or fail.

Signs of Peri-Implantitis

Peri-implantitis can be hard to notice at first. Some patients do not feel pain in the early stages, which is why regular implant maintenance visits are important.

Possible signs include:

  • Red or swollen gums around the implant
  • Bleeding when brushing, flossing, or cleaning around the implant
  • Tenderness near the implant
  • Pus or drainage
  • Persistent bad breath or a bad taste
  • Gum recession around the implant
  • Discomfort when chewing
  • A loose implant in advanced cases

Any bleeding, swelling, or drainage around a dental implant should be checked as soon as possible. 

What Causes Peri-Implantitis?

Peri-implantitis usually begins with bacterial buildup around the implant. Over time, plaque and inflammation can damage the tissues that support the implant.

Common risk factors include:

  • Poor plaque control around the implant
  • A history of gum disease
  • Smoking or tobacco use
  • Uncontrolled diabetes
  • Missed dental or periodontal maintenance visits
  • Implant positioning or restoration shape that makes cleaning difficult
  • Bite pressure or grinding in some cases

Patients with a history of periodontal disease may have a higher risk because the same bacterial and inflammatory patterns can affect tissues around implants.

Peri-Implantitis vs. Peri-Implant Mucositis

Peri-implant mucositis affects only the soft tissue around the implant. The gums may bleed, swell, or look inflamed, but the supporting bone remains stable.

Peri-implantitis involves inflammation plus progressive bone loss around the implant. This makes it more complex to treat and more concerning for implant stability.

Early inflammation around an implant may be reversible if treated before bone loss develops.

How Peri-Implantitis Is Diagnosed

Your periodontist will check whether implant inflammation is limited to the gums or has affected the bone. Diagnosis usually requires both a clinical exam and imaging.

During an evaluation, we may:

  • Check gum inflammation around the implant
  • Measure the tissue depth around the implant
  • Look for bleeding or pus
  • Review your implant history and home care routine
  • Take X-rays to evaluate bone levels

Peri-implantitis may not cause obvious symptoms right away, so routine monitoring plays an important role in catching changes early.

Peri-Implantitis Treatment

Treatment for peri-implantitis is designed to reduce inflammation, control bacterial buildup, and help preserve the bone supporting the implant.

In some cases, laser therapy may be used to reduce bacteria and target inflamed tissue around the implant. At Highlands Ranch Periodontics & Dental Implants, the Biolase® diode laser is used as part of periodontal treatment to precisely target harmful bacteria while minimizing disruption to healthy tissue.

More advanced cases may require surgical treatment to access and clean the implant surface, remove infected tissue, reshape areas that trap bacteria, or perform bone grafting procedures when appropriate.

The goal of treatment is to stop disease progression and maintain the long-term health and stability of the implant.

Can Peri-Implantitis Be Reversed?

Peri-implant mucositis can often be reversed when treated early because it affects only the soft tissue. Peri-implantitis is different because bone loss has already occurred.

Treatment can stop the disease from getting worse and may help rebuild support in certain cases, but lost bone does not simply grow back on its own. This is why early care is so important. The sooner inflammation is treated, the better the chance of protecting the implant.

How to Prevent Peri-Implantitis

Dental implants need ongoing maintenance to stay healthy. Even though the implant itself cannot get a cavity, the surrounding gums and bone can still become inflamed or infected.

You can lower your risk by:

  • Brushing twice daily
  • Cleaning carefully around the implant
  • Using floss, interdental brushes, or a water flosser if recommended
  • Keeping regular dental cleanings
  • Seeing a periodontist for implant maintenance when needed
  • Avoiding tobacco
  • Managing diabetes or other health conditions
  • Reporting bleeding or swelling early

Prevention is easier than treating advanced bone loss around an implant.

Dental Implant Care at Highlands Ranch Periodontics & Dental Implants

Healthy gums and strong bone support are essential for long-term implant success. If you already have a dental implant, routine monitoring helps identify inflammation before it becomes more serious.

At Highlands Ranch Periodontics & Dental Implants, Dr. Mike Norouzinia, DDS, and Dr. Kerri Font, DDS, evaluate the gum and bone health around dental implants and provide treatment for peri-implant disease when concerns develop. Care is focused on protecting implant stability, controlling inflammation, and supporting long-term oral health.

Dental Implants in Highlands Ranch, CO

To book an appointment at our periodontal office in Highlands Ranch, call (303) 683-1144 or visit us at 9090 Ridgeline Blvd #225, Highlands Ranch, CO 80129.

FAQs

What does peri-implantitis look like?

Peri-implantitis may cause red, swollen, or bleeding gums around an implant. In more advanced cases, you may notice gum recession, pus, or a loose implant.

Is peri-implantitis painful?

Some patients have tenderness or discomfort when chewing, but others have little pain even when inflammation or bone loss is present.

Can a dental implant be saved after peri-implantitis?

In many cases, an implant can be saved if peri-implantitis is diagnosed and treated early. The outcome depends on the amount of bone loss, implant stability, and response to treatment.

How fast does peri-implantitis progress?

Progression varies. Some cases develop slowly over years, while others worsen more quickly depending on oral hygiene, smoking, diabetes, gum disease history, and maintenance habits.

What happens if peri-implantitis is not treated?

Untreated peri-implantitis can lead to continued bone loss around the implant. Over time, the implant may become loose and may need to be removed.

Categories: Periodontics