Microbiological and Bio-molecular Diagnostics: Possibilities and Limitations in Peri-implant Disease

The number of placed implants is on a continuous rise. This goes hand in hand with the number of patients subsequently suffering from inflammatory changes around those implants and loss of supporting structures - peri-implantitis. Almost every second placed implant shows signs of inflammation; irreversible loss of implant supporting bone can be recorded on nearly every forth implant. High progression rates and the unpredictability of therapy approaches, which are mainly transferred from periodontitis management, lead to the need of early identification of inflammatory processes in those situations. Currently, the market is overloaded with a multitude of diagnostic tests, which promise extensive possibilities and results. Aim of this work is to shed light onto this complex variety of options and discuss their clinical relevance.