A pattern of peri-implantitis affecting middle implants in 3-implant splinted prostheses.

Background: Previous investigators have noted an increased risk of crestal bone loss and failure of the middle implant of 3-implant-splinted (3-IS) fixed dental prostheses (FDPs). Possible causes have included ill-fitting prostheses, unhygienic prosthetic contours, and discrepancies in prosthetic platform heights.

Methods & Results: We identified four cases in which the middle implant of a 3-IS multiunit FDP suffered advanced bone loss, ultimately leading to implant removal.