Does supportive peri-implant therapy reduce the risk of peri-implantitis?

Yes, supportive peri-implant therapy (SPIT/SPT) consistently reduces the risk of peri-implantitis across multiple systematic reviews and meta-analyses.

A meta-analysis of five trials (1,570 implants, 617 patients) found significantly reduced rates of peri-implantitis with SPIT compared to no SPIT at both implant and patient levels, along with significantly reduced marginal bone loss ^[1]. A larger systematic review of 25 studies similarly found that SPIT, particularly with individualized risk-based recall intervals, consistently improved clinical outcomes compared with standard or no maintenance ^[2]. A separate meta-analysis of nine controlled clinical trials quantified this benefit, showing that SPT was associated with a markedly lower prevalence of peri-implantitis (risk ratio 0.25, p < 0.001) and higher implant survival rates compared to the non-SPT group ^[3]. Studies also show that lack of SPT or poor adherence to it results in significantly higher frequencies of deepened peri-implant pockets, mucosal bleeding, alveolar bone loss, and implant loss ^[4].

However, SPIT does not eliminate risk entirely. Even with regular supportive care following peri-implantitis treatment, disease recurrence tends to increase over time, with mean recurrence rising from approximately 28.5% at one year post-treatment to 47.2% after two years of follow-up ^[5]. This underscores that while SPIT is effective at reducing risk, individualized protocols accounting for patient-specific factors such as history of periodontitis, smoking, and systemic health should be integrated into routine implant care ^[2].