How we can measure perimplant PD
Perimplant PD should be measured routinely during maintenance appointment with a less probing force (0.2 to 0.3 N) as the tissue is more sensitive. Even with this less force, it was found that the probe caused a separation between the surface of the implant and the junctional epithelium, but not within the connective tissue adaptation. The healing of this breach is complete within 5 days of probing. There are also concerns that the probing can also introduce pathogens into the periimplant tissue. The PD is affected by the density of the peri implant tissues. In the presence of periimplant inflammation the periodontal probes penetrate close to the alveolar bone exceeding the connective tissue level by an average of 0.52.mm.