The peri-implant sulcus compared with internal implant and suprastructure components: a microbiological analysis.

Purpose: A recent in vivo study has shown considerable contamination of internal implant and suprastructure components with great biodiversity, indicating bacterial leakage along the implant-abutment interface, abutment-prosthesis interface, and restorative margins. The goal of the present study was to compare microbiologically the peri-implant sulcus to these internal components on implants with no clinical signs of peri-implantitis and in function for many years. Checkerboard DNA-DNA hybridization was used to identify and quantify 40 species.

[Guidelines for periodontal diagnosis in Belgium].

Proper examination of patients is essential in assessing treatment needs. This includes at least a thorough anamnesis and clinical examination. As periodontal diseases are highly-prevalent in Belgium, every patient should be examined as such on a routine basis in general practice.