The study, “Understanding peri-implantitis occurrence and recurrence following treatment: A patient-centered study”, recently published in the Journal of Periodontology, analyses the perceptions, knowledge and satisfaction of patients treated for peri-implantitis, providing a patient-centred perspective that remains largely unexplored in this field.

Peri-implantitis is an infection that affects the tissues surrounding dental implants and can lead to implant loss if untreated. It is estimated to affect approximately one in five patients with dental implants.

The study, based on a survey of 100 patients with a total of 258 implants treated for peri-implantitis at the UIC Barcelona University Dental Clinic, shows that a significant proportion of patients do not identify key factors such as diabetes, smoking, poor oral hygiene or the lack of regular check-ups as risk factors. “This lack of awareness hinders prevention and may increase the risk of recurrence,” notes José Nart, principal investigator of the study.

It has also been observed that patients who regularly attend check-ups show a high level of knowledge and awareness of the disease, illustrating the importance of clinical follow-up.

“The problem is not only treating the disease, but also preventing it from occurring or recurring, and for that the patient must be well informed,” stresses José Nart. The study also shows that 64% of patients reported dissatisfaction with the information they received about the incidence of the disease. “This suggests that communication with patients needs to be improved from the outset: explaining risks, realistic expectations and the patient’s active role,” adds the researcher.