Implant Periapical Lesion
A localised inflammatory lesion at or near the apex of a dental implant, typically resulting from bacterial contamination, overheating during osteotomy preparation, or foreign body reaction.
Full Definition
An implant periapical lesion (also called retrograde peri-implantitis) is a discrete pathological area of bone destruction surrounding the apical portion of an implant that arises in the absence of the marginal bone loss pattern characteristic of classic peri-implantitis. Causative factors include bacterial contamination from an infected adjacent tooth, thermal osteonecrosis during implant bed preparation, or the presence of residual endodontic pathology from a previously extracted tooth. Editors must distinguish this lesion from 'peri-implantitis', which originates at the crestal margin and progresses apically, not at the apex. The preferred term in the literature is 'implant periapical lesion'; 'retrograde peri-implantitis' is a synonym but is used less consistently.
Usage
Usage note: Not synonymous with peri-implantitis, which is a crestal/marginal disease. The apical location is the defining differentiator.
In Context
- "A well-defined radiolucency at the implant apex was diagnosed as an implant periapical lesion, likely attributable to residual infection from the previously extracted molar." — Radiographic diagnosis report
- "Editors should flag any manuscript that uses 'peri-implantitis' to describe an apical lesion, as the correct term is 'implant periapical lesion' or 'retrograde peri-implantitis'." — Journal copyediting guideline