Bleeding on brushing
Healthy gum around an implant does not bleed. Bleeding when you brush or use an interdental brush is the earliest and most common sign.
Implant gum disease
Peri-implantitis Treatment: Gum and Bone Infection Around an Implant
Implants cannot decay, but the gum and bone around them can become inflamed. Caught early it is reversible; left alone it slowly destroys the bone the implant depends on.
- Diagnosis with X-rays and 3D CBCT where needed
- GBT cleaning around implants
- Implants placed abroad assessed too
If your implant was placed elsewhere, bring any implant card, X-rays or notes you have.
Quick answer
What is peri-implantitis, and can it be treated?
Peri-implantitis is inflammation around a dental implant that has spread from the gum into the supporting bone, usually triggered by bacterial plaque. Its earlier stage, peri-implant mucositis, affects only the gum and is reversible with cleaning. Peri-implantitis treatment aims to stop bone loss: thorough cleaning of the implant surface, fixing anything that traps plaque and, where needed, surgery. At Creative Arts in Dubai, X-rays and a 3D CBCT scan where needed show how much bone is affected.
Who treats you here Dr. Firas Osman Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeon & Implantologist · Dr. Khalid Saeed Co-founder & Dentist · Dr. Kinan Bonni Dentist
Every dentist’s licence can be checked on the DHA Sheryan medical directory.
27 yearsIn-house dental laboratory in the same building
Written planItemised treatment plan before you commit
Open daily10:00–20:00, seven days a week
Jumeirah 3614 Jumeira St, Umm Suqeim 1, Dubai
Symptoms
What are the signs of peri-implantitis?
Peri-implantitis often causes little or no pain until late, because an implant has no nerve inside it. These are the signs to act on.
Swelling, redness or tenderness
The gum looks puffy or darker than around your natural teeth, and may be sore to touch or when chewing.
Pus or a bad taste
Discharge when you press the gum, or a persistent bad taste or smell from one area, suggests infection in a pocket around the implant.
Gum shrinking, threads showing
As bone is lost, the gum can recede so the metal collar or threads of the implant become visible.
A loose implant
If the implant itself moves, not just the crown, the bone bond has been lost. This is a late sign and needs prompt assessment.
Causes
Is peri-implantitis caused by poor cleaning or by the implant?
Mostly by bacteria, not by the implant material. Plaque that collects where the crown meets the gum triggers inflammation in the same way it causes gum disease around natural teeth. The American Academy of Periodontology lists a previous diagnosis of periodontal disease, poor plaque control, smoking and diabetes as risk factors, and notes that regular cleaning and check-ups help prevent it. A systematic review by Mustapha and colleagues (2022) also found that implants in smokers failed more often and lost more bone than implants in non-smokers.
Some causes sit with the restoration rather than the patient. Excess cement left under the gum when a crown is cemented, a crown shaped so that a brush cannot reach the gum line, or an implant placed too close to a neighbouring tooth can all hold plaque where it cannot be removed at home. Heavy grinding adds overload. That is why treatment looks at the whole implant, crown and bite, not only the gum.
What is it?
Peri-implant mucositis, peri-implantitis or a different implant problem?
Several implant problems feel similar. An examination and X-ray tell them apart.
| What is happening | Typical signs | What it usually needs | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Peri-implant mucositis | Gum inflammation without bone loss | Bleeding and swelling; X-ray bone level unchanged | Professional cleaning and better home care; reversible |
| Peri-implantitis | Inflammation with progressive bone loss | Bleeding or pus, deeper pocket, bone loss on X-ray | Cleaning of the implant surface, often surgery |
| Loose crown or screw | The crown or its screw has loosened; implant still bonded | Crown moves or clicks; gum may be sore | Retightening or replacing the screw or crown |
| Failed implant | The implant has lost its bond with the bone | The implant itself moves | Removal, healing and planning a replacement |
Our guide to signs of a failing implant covers early failure in the months after surgery.
Diagnosis
How is peri-implantitis diagnosed?
The aim is to measure how far the inflammation has gone and to find what is feeding it.
History and records
When and where the implant was placed, what has changed, smoking and medical history, and any implant card or earlier X-rays.
Visit 1Gentle examination
Checking for bleeding or pus, pocket depth around the implant, and whether the crown or implant moves.
Visit 1X-rays
The bone level along the implant is compared with earlier images if available. A 3D CBCT scan is used where the shape of the bone loss matters for planning.
Visit 1Check the crown and bite
Excess cement, a crown that cannot be cleaned, a loose screw or overload from grinding are identified, since they must be fixed for treatment to work.
Where needed
Treatment options
Peri-implantitis treatment, from simple to more involved
Most treatment plans combine several rows. The choice depends on how much bone is lost and the shape of the defect.
| Option | When it fits | What it involves |
|---|---|---|
| Home-care changes | Every case; on its own only for mucositis | Interdental brushes or a water flosser around the implant, and technique coaching |
| Professional non-surgical cleaning | Mucositis and early peri-implantitis | Removing biofilm and deposits from the implant and crown surfaces, including GBT implant cleaning |
| Antiseptic or antibiotic support | Selected cases, alongside cleaning | Chosen by the dentist for your health; never a substitute for cleaning |
| Fixing the restoration | Excess cement, a crown that traps plaque, a loose screw | Removing cement, reshaping or remaking the crown, adjusting the bite |
| Surgical cleaning | Bone loss that non-surgical care cannot reach | Opening the gum under local anaesthetic to clean the implant surface directly |
| Bone grafting of the defect | Contained, crater-shaped defects | Filling the defect with graft material during surgery, decided case by case |
| Removal and later replacement | The implant moves or too much bone is lost | Removing the implant, healing, grafting if needed, then planning a new one |
Treatment is planned with you in writing, including the alternatives, before anything starts. See also implant repair at Creative Arts.
Prognosis
Can an implant with peri-implantitis be saved?
Often, if it is still firmly bonded and treatment starts before too much bone is lost. Mucositis is reversible. Peri-implantitis can frequently be stabilised so the bone loss stops, although bone that has already gone does not fully return in most cases, and the gum may sit lower afterwards. Results are better when the cause is removed: stopping smoking, improving diabetes control, fixing the crown and keeping regular maintenance visits.
An implant that moves has lost its bond with the bone and cannot be re-attached. It is removed, the site heals, and in many cases a new implant can be placed later, sometimes after bone grafting. If a new implant is not suitable, a bridge or other option is discussed. Our guide to dental implant risks puts peri-implantitis alongside the other long-term problems to know about.
Get urgent help if…
you have facial swelling with fever, difficulty swallowing or breathing, or swelling spreading towards the eye or neck: go to a hospital emergency department. For bleeding, pus or a loose implant without these signs, contact the clinic during opening hours, daily 10:00–20:00.
Prevention
How can smokers, diabetics and everyone else prevent peri-implantitis?
- Clean the implant like a natural tooth, and more carefully. Interdental brushes sized for the gap, or a water flosser, reach where the crown meets the gum. Our guide to cleaning implants and bridges at home shows how.
- Keep maintenance visits. Professional cleaning and checks catch mucositis while it is still reversible.
- Stop smoking, including shisha and vaping, or cut down as far as you can.
- Keep diabetes well controlled and tell your dentist if your medication changes.
- Treat gum disease around your natural teeth, since the same bacteria can affect implants.
- Wear a night guard if you grind, to protect the implant and crown from overload.
Who treats you
Who treats peri-implantitis at Creative Arts?
Dr. Firas Osman, Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeon & Implantologist, with Dr. Khalid Saeed and Dr. Kinan Bonni, who place and restore implants at the clinic, assess implant problems, including implants placed at other clinics or abroad, and plan the treatment.
Sources
Clinical statements on this page are consistent with these independent sources. They describe averages from studies, not a promise for any one patient.
- American Academy of Periodontology. Peri-Implant Diseases. American Academy of Periodontology, 2024.
- Mustapha AD, Salame Z, Chrcanovic BR. Smoking and Dental Implants: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Medicina, 2022.
Patient questions
Frequently asked questions
What are the first signs of peri-implantitis?
The earliest sign is usually bleeding from the gum around the implant when you brush or clean between the teeth. Swelling, redness, a bad taste or pus can follow. Because the implant has no nerve, pain often comes late. Any bleeding around an implant deserves a check, since at the mucositis stage it is still fully reversible with cleaning.
How is peri-implantitis treatment done in Dubai?
Treatment starts with an examination and X-rays to measure the bone loss, then thorough cleaning of the implant surface and correction of anything trapping plaque, such as excess cement or a crown that cannot be cleaned. More advanced cases may need surgical cleaning, sometimes with a bone graft. At Creative Arts the plan is written out with alternatives before treatment begins.
Can peri-implantitis go away on its own?
No. Peri-implantitis is driven by bacteria in a pocket around the implant, and the bone loss usually continues until the cause is treated. Better brushing can calm early mucositis, but once bone is involved, professional treatment is needed. Waiting for it to settle tends to mean more bone lost and fewer options.
Is peri-implantitis surgery painful?
Surgical cleaning is carried out under local anaesthetic, so the area is numb during the procedure. Afterwards there is usually some soreness and swelling for a few days, typically managed with over-the-counter pain relief taken as directed on the pack. Sedation can be discussed for anxious patients after a medical-history review.
Does peri-implantitis cause pus from the implant?
It can. Pus or discharge when the gum is pressed, or a persistent bad taste from one implant, suggests an infected pocket around it. This needs examination and an X-ray. If there is facial swelling with fever or difficulty swallowing or breathing, go to a hospital emergency department instead of waiting for a dental appointment.
Can peri-implantitis be treated on an implant placed abroad?
Yes, the gum and bone around it can be assessed and treated in the same way. Bring any implant card, X-rays and notes, because knowing the implant system helps if the crown or abutment needs removing or replacing. If the system cannot be identified, the plan explains the alternatives before anything is done.
Keep exploring
Related treatments
ImplantsDental implants in DubaiPlanning, surgery, the crown on top and long-term maintenance.RepairImplant repairLoose crowns, failing implants and implants placed elsewhere.CleaningImplant cleaningProfessional GBT cleaning around implants and bridges.GuideDental implant risksThe disadvantages and long-term problems to know about.GuideCleaning implants at homeBrushes, flossers and technique for implants and bridges.GuideSigns of a failing implantEarly and late warning signs, and what to do.
Visit us
One clinic, in Jumeirah 3 / Umm Suqeim 1
Creative Arts has a single clinic on Jumeira Street (Jumeirah Beach Road). Ask about parking when you book.
- Address614 Jumeira St, Jumeirah 3, Umm Suqeim 1, Dubai
- Opening hoursDaily 10:00–20:00, including Friday and Sunday
- Neighbouring areasJumeirah 1–3, Umm Suqeim 1–3, Al Wasl, Al Safa, Al Manara
Our clinic in Jumeirah Open in Google Maps · Rated 4.8 on Google from 238 patient reviews (October 2026) — read them
Book a consultation
Request a consultation
Tell us what you would like to change. The clinic replies within working hours with an appointment time.
- Address614 Jumeira St, Jumeirah 3, Umm Suqeim 1, Dubai · Our clinic in Jumeirah 3 / Umm Suqeim 1
- Opening hoursClinic open daily, 10:00–20:00
- Phone+971 4 342 4444 · WhatsApp +971 56 677 7537
Book Your Consultation
Or call us +971 4 342 4444Or message us on WhatsApp
Talk to a dentist about your case
A consultation ends with a diagnosis and a written, itemised plan — not a sales pitch. Book online, message us on WhatsApp, or call the clinic.