Dental Implants Complications & Maintenance 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Peri-implant mucositis is best described as:
- Irreversible bone loss around an implant
- Reversible inflammation limited to the soft tissue around an implant without bone loss (Correct answer)
- Complete implant failure
- Infection of the surgical site only
Correct answer: Reversible inflammation limited to the soft tissue around an implant without bone loss
Peri-implant mucositis is the implant equivalent of gingivitis — reversible soft tissue inflammation without bone loss that responds to improved oral hygiene.
Question 2: Peri-implantitis is distinguished from peri-implant mucositis by the presence of:
- Only soft tissue inflammation
- Progressive marginal bone loss with inflammation (Correct answer)
- Suppuration only without bone changes
- Pain as the primary symptom
Correct answer: Progressive marginal bone loss with inflammation
Peri-implantitis involves active, progressive destruction of the supporting bone around a functioning implant in addition to soft tissue inflammation.
Question 3: The first-line treatment for peri-implant mucositis is:
- Implant removal
- Systemic antibiotics alone
- Professional debridement combined with patient oral hygiene instruction (Correct answer)
- Surgical bone regeneration
Correct answer: Professional debridement combined with patient oral hygiene instruction
Since mucositis is biofilm-induced and reversible, professional cleaning around the implant combined with excellent home hygiene consistently resolves it.
Question 4: A screw loosening complication with an implant crown is most commonly caused by:
- Insufficient torque or occlusal overload generating bending moments (Correct answer)
- Using titanium abutment screws
- Poor oral hygiene around the implant
- Implant placed too deep in bone
Correct answer: Insufficient torque or occlusal overload generating bending moments
Inadequate tightening torque or excessive occlusal forces — especially lateral interferences — are the most common causes of abutment or retaining screw loosening.
Question 5: Nerve injury (paresthesia) after mandibular implant placement is most often associated with:
- Excessive irrigation during drilling
- Implant placement too close to or into the inferior alveolar nerve canal (Correct answer)
- Using too large a diameter implant
- Placing the implant too shallow
Correct answer: Implant placement too close to or into the inferior alveolar nerve canal
The inferior alveolar nerve runs through the mandibular canal and can be compressed, stretched, or severed if the implant encroaches on this structure.
Question 6: Antibiotic prophylaxis before dental implant surgery is commonly recommended for:
- All patients regardless of health status
- Systemically compromised patients and per surgeon protocol, typically amoxicillin 2g one hour before (Correct answer)
- Only patients with cardiac conditions
- No patients — antibiotics cause implant failure
Correct answer: Systemically compromised patients and per surgeon protocol, typically amoxicillin 2g one hour before
While evidence varies, many surgeons use prophylactic amoxicillin 2g pre-operatively for at-risk patients following ADA/AAOS guidelines to reduce infection risk.
Dental Implants Complications & Maintenance 1
Peri-implant mucositis is best described as: