The concept of using rotary tools to cut hard materials, such as granite, is at least 6,000 years old. As early as 25,000 BCE, our ancestors were using hand-held lithic borers to cut through shells without breaking them. These tools were generally made of flint, and pressed against the object to be perforated and then rotated back and forth at low speed and relatively high torque. Powerful modern handpieces have elevated the principle of variable speed and high torque to enable precise cuts into much harder materials like zirconia.

A 52-year old patient presents at a prevention session. The patient has no systemic disease and is not taking any medication. He has had various dental treatments and also has two active carious lesions. In addition, the patient has four implants (2nd, 3rd and 4th quadrants). He is revealed to have early periodontal disease (stage IV, grade B). His periodontal condition is stable; a probe depth of 5 mm is only evident at the implant in region 36. Gingivitis is also identified.

In the medical history, the 55 year-old patient states that he has no systemic disease and is not taking any medication. The patient’s lifestyle is similarly unremarkable. The patient has a few tooth restorations and two implants (2nd and 4th quadrants). On the basis of current findings, gingivitis is identified in an otherwise stable periodontal condition on the reduced periodontium (stage III, grade A).

This study once more underlines that patients who do not regularly attend check-ups after receiving their implant-supported restoration have a very high risk of peri-implant diseases in general and specifically peri-implantitis; based on this data, at least two check-up visits per year are recommended.