Diederik Hentenaar

17 General introduction GENERAL AIM AND OUTLINE OF THE THESIS The general aim of this thesis was to assess non-surgical and surgical resective approaches in the treatment of peri-implantitis evaluating clinical, radiographical and microbiological parameters. Additionally, the role of immunological biomarkers in the diagnosis of peri-implantitis was investigated as well as the effect of the non-surgical treatment of peri-implantitis on these biomarkers. At last, the relation of the cervical crown contour with peri-implant bone loss and peri-implant soft tissue inflammation was evaluated. The specific aims were: • To assess immunological biomarkers in peri-implant crevicular fluid of healthy implants and implants with peri-implantitis (before and after non-surgical treatment ) ( chapter 2 ); • To evaluate the effect of erythritol air-polishing in the non-surgical treatment of peri- implantitis in terms of clinical, radiographical and microbiological parameters in a randomized controlled study design ( chapter 3 ); • To evaluate the effectiveness of erythritol air-polishing as implant debridement method during the surgical treatment of peri-implantitis in a randomized controlled study design ( chapter 4 ); • To evaluate the microbiological and clinical effectiveness of 35% phosphoric etching gel as a decontaminating agent of the implant surface during resective surgical treatment of peri-implantitis in a randomized controlled study design ( chapter 5 ); • To evaluate the cervical crown contour on dental implants in relation to the peri- implant marginal bone level and peri-implant soft-tissue health ( chapter 6 ). 1