Surface decontamination of explanted peri-implantitis-affected implants.

Area of Science:

• Dental Implantology
• Periodontology
• Biomaterials Science

Background:

• Peri-implantitis is a prevalent complication following dental implant placement.
• Effective decontamination of explanted implants is crucial for understanding disease mechanisms and improving future treatments.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of air-polishing (AP) alone and in combination with alkaline electrolysed water (AEW) for surface decontamination of explanted peri-implantitis-affected dental implants.

Main Methods:

• Thirty-four explanted implants from 25 patients with severe peri-implantitis were analyzed.
• Implants underwent surface decontamination using AP with or without AEW, with untreated implants serving as controls.
• Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) were employed for surface analysis.

Main Results:

• Both AP and AP with AEW treatments were effective in removing biofilm, leaving minimal residual bacteria and mineralized deposits.
• Factors such as implant thread loci, zones, surface characteristics, and gender influenced decontamination outcomes.
• EDS analysis indicated that implant zones affected atomic percentages of carbon and calcium, while surface characteristics influenced titanium levels.

Conclusions:

• Air-polishing, with or without alkaline electrolysed water, represents an effective therapeutic approach for biofilm removal from peri-implantitis-affected explanted dental implants.
• The choice of decontamination method may need to consider specific implant characteristics and anatomical zones for optimal results.