Biofilm Analysis of Retrieved Dental Implants after Different Peri-Implantitis Treatments

Abstract

The aim of the current study was to analyse the planktonic growth of Streptococcus mutans on the surfaces of three implants retrieved after three different peri-implantitis treatments. Three implants from a male patient with high levels of bone loss were treated by mechanical debridement, chemical decontamination, and implantoplasty. After 4 months of follow-up, the implants were removed. The growth and biofilm formation were measured by spectrophotometry (OD_{630 nm}) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), after 48 hours of incubation. Results showed an average of Streptococcus mutans planktonic growth over the implants of 0.21 nm (mechanical debridement), 0.16 nm (chemical decontamination), and 0.15 nm (implantoplasty). Data were analysed by ANOVA and Tukey's test (p < 0.05 for chemical decontamination and implantoplasty). Implantoplasty and chemical decontamination showed the lowest levels of planktonic growth, indicating a possible influence of the modification procedures on the titanium surface on the initial biofilm attachment.

Figure 1

(a) Initial tomography, (b) 6 months' implant after placement and peri-implantitis treatments, (c) 4 months' after different peri-implantitis treatments. (A: implantoplasty, B: acid treatment, and C: debridement).

Figure 2

Peri-implantitis treatment. A: implantoplasty, B: acid treatment, and C: debridement.

Figure 3

Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images of the titanium surface displaying topography features before and after the S. mutans biofilm formation ((A) implantoplasty, (B) acid treatment, and (C) debridement) (Magnification D8.6 ×1.0k 100 μm).

Figure 4

Biofilm formation on implantoplasty treatment surface (a). S. mutans planktonic growth in implants for 48 h in TSB (37°C), measured by spectrophotometer with an optical density of 630 nm (b) and table exhibiting mean values, according to the specific treatment (c).