Therapy of peri-implantitis: a systematic review.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this study was to provide a systematic review of randomized controlled and/or comparative clinical trials published in the international peer-reviewed literature in the English language, up to and including July 2007, concerning the efficacy of all treatment modalities implemented for the therapy of peri-implantitis.


METHODS
PubMed and The Cochrane Library databases were searched electronically and numerous journals were examined manually. In the first phase of selection, the titles and abstracts, and in the second phase, complete papers were screened independently and in duplicate by three reviewers (S. K., I. K. K. and M. T.).


RESULTS
The search yielded 1304 possibly relevant titles and abstracts. After the first phase of selection, 13 publications were singled out for a rigorous evaluation. Following the second phase, five studies were selected.


CONCLUSIONS
The selected studies are too limited in number and exhibit small sample sizes and short follow-up periods. Therefore, there is a definite need for more well-designed, preferably longitudinal, randomized controlled clinical trials. Within the limitations of the selected studies, mechanical debridement combined with antiseptic/antibiotic therapy, the Er:YAG laser or regenerative techniques may be used for treating peri-implantitis, but the indications for each of these techniques have not been delineated clearly.
Kotsovilis
Sotirios
S
Department of Periodontology, School of Dentistry, University of Athens, Athens, Greece.
Karoussis
Ioannis K
IK
Trianti
Maria
M
Fourmousis
Ioannis
I
D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015921:Dental Implants / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012534:Dental Scaling; D006801:Humans; D053685:Laser Therapy; D010518:Periodontitis / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local; D015921:Dental Implants