PERIODONTITIS VS PERI-IMPLANTITIS - THE SAME DISEASE - THE SAME TREATMENT

The microbial nora in the natural dentition sulcus/pocket and the impl ant crevice/pocket is very similar in both health and disease. In heal th, coccal forms predominate, and in disease, large numbers of Gram-ne gative pathogens are associated with both tooth and implant. It has al so been demonstrated that the bacteria in the partially edentulous imp lant case may be more pathogenic (especially Gram-negative rods and sp irochetes) than in the fully edentulous case, indicating a possible se eding mechanism from tooth pocket to implant crevice. Detoxification p rocedures involving the use of tetracycline and citric acid prior to r egenerative procedures with the use of barrier membranes and grafting materials are necessary, and the same problems attendant to premature exposure of the barrier membrane(s) in the natural dentition situation apply to the implant case. it is apparent that periodontitis = peri-i mplantitis in etiology and therapy.