Implant periapical lesion-literature review

The etiologies and mechanisms of implant failure are multifactorial. Implant periapical lesion (IPL) is one possible cause of implant failure. IPL is an infectious-inflammatory alterations surrounding an implant apex. The diagnosis is based on the clinical manifestations and radiological findings, where a radiolucent lesion can be seen in the periapical area. It is apparent that IPL has a multifactorial background, mainly caused by the presence of a preexisting microbial pathology or surgical trauma during implant surgery. To date, there are no clinical protocols for managing IPL. However, while the etiologies of IPL are still not clearly known, successful treatment is available. The low incidence of pathosis may be due to selective placement of edentulous arches in earlier years. As implants become standard for dentate arches, more of these lesions may be expected. Additional data are certainly necessary for a more-comprehensive understanding of the etiopathologic and clinical problems related to IPL. (J Dent Sci, 2(4):179-192, 2007)