Dental Endangered by Severe Periodontal

The study involved 736 people with a total of 2,336 dental implants. implant dentals are tiny metal posts. They are used to replace missing teeth. The implant is put in the jaw bone. The bone grows around it, keeping it secure. Most implants are covered with a crown or cap so they look like real teeth. Some implants are used to anchor dentures.

Researchers kept track of the people in the study for as long as 12 years after they received their implants. Only 4% of the implants failed. A failed implant does not bond with the jawbone. It must be removed.

For the first four years after implant placement periodontal disease had no impact on the retention of an implant in the jaw bone. After about four years, people with severe periodontal disease had eight times the risk of having their implants fail. Smokers had about three times the risk of failure.

The authors believe that the failure rate increased after four years because periodontal disease gradually worsens if it is not treated. As a person's periodontal disease becomes worse, the bone and gum tissue around the implant is harmed. This continues until the implant cannot work anymore.

People with moderate or mild periodontal disease did not have a higher risk of implant failure than people with healthy gums.

Periodontal disease affects the gums and other supporting structures of the teeth. In advanced periodontal disease, the gums pull away from the teeth and fibers and bone that support the teeth start to break down.