Peri-implantitis
Pronunciation: peh-ree-im-plan-TY-tis
A destructive inflammatory condition affecting the soft and hard tissues surrounding an osseointegrated implant, leading to progressive marginal bone loss.
Full Definition
Peri-implantitis is the implant-specific analogue of periodontitis, characterised by plaque-induced inflammation of the peri-implant mucosa combined with radiographically detectable crestal bone loss beyond established thresholds. It is distinguished from 'peri-implant mucositis,' which affects only soft tissue and is reversible. Editors must retain the hyphen (peri-implantitis) in accordance with standard dental nomenclature and should not spell it as 'periimplantitis' or 'peri implantitis.' The condition is documented under specific diagnostic criteria in consensus reports from the European Association for Osseointegration (EAO).
Usage
Usage note: Always hyphenated: 'peri-implantitis.' Never merge into one word or split into two. Distinguish carefully from 'peri-implant mucositis,' which is a reversible, bone-sparing condition.
In Context
- "The patient presented with bleeding on probing and 3 mm of marginal bone loss consistent with peri-implantitis." — Periodontal assessment report
- "Editors must distinguish peri-implantitis from peri-implant mucositis when reviewing treatment outcome data." — Systematic review manuscript