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Implant maintenance and aftercare

British Dental Journal volume 240, pages 93–96 (2026)Cite this article

Abstract

As increasing numbers of dental implants are being placed in the general population, the need to develop a maintenance protocol that caters to the needs of these patients has become essential. Historically, dental implants were predominantly placed in the early edentulous population; however, the shift of placements to the wider population means that a patient-focused approach to peri-implant maintenance therapy and the effect this has on biological complications and implant survival need to be considered. This has been considered in the new periodontal classification (2018), which includes peri-implant diseases and conditions for the first time.

Key points

  • Implant maintenance is an essential aspect of implant therapy to help prevent the development of peri-implant disease.

  • Patient education is essential, with clear messaging that looking after implants is as important as looking after natural teeth.

  • Achieving optimal plaque control can be very challenging at implants, and patients require individually tailored oral hygiene instructions from their dental professionals.

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Acknowledgements

The BDJ Editorial Team would like to thank the authors of this chapter for granting us permission to republish their chapter within our journal. This chapter was first originally published in Craig Barclay, Oral Implantology: Assessment to Maintenance, BDJ Clinician's Guides, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-55241-0_9, ©Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2024.

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  1. Restorative Dentistry/Oral Rehabilitation, Manchester Foundation Trust, Manchester, United Kingdom

    Craig Barclay

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  1. Craig Barclay
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Correspondence to Craig Barclay.

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Barclay, C. Implant maintenance and aftercare. Br Dent J 240, 93–96 (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41415-026-9524-y

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