Diseased implants can be distinguished from healthy implants by the presence of inflammation in the surrounding tissue. Inflammation correlates with elevated levels of interleukin-1ß in gingival crevicular fluid. An analysis of interleukin-1ß levels in diseased implants compared to those in matching healthy implants in 12 patients indicates that the level of interleukin-1ß was approximately three times that at healthy sites. Interleukin-1ß levels may provide a means of monitoring the health status of dental implants. Keywords: cytokines, implants, interleukin-1ß, peri-implantitis