maintenance of dental implants: a review

objective: successful bonding of a dental implant to bone, which was referred to as osseointegration by branemark has been well documented. however, long-term prognosis of an implant depends on adequate maintenance and long-term care. an effective maintenance program is required to preserve the health of peri-implant tissues. several techniques have been suggested for this purpose but it is not clear which is more efficient.   review of literature: this review evaluates the literature regarding implant care and factors affecting the peri-implant soft tissue and describes the required measures for assessment of peri-implant status and treatment of reversible peri-implant diseases. conclusion: data shows that several measures can be taken to maintain the health of peri-implant tissue and ensure the long-term prognosis of dental implants.