# Laboratory Investigation of the Effect of Three Decontamination Methods on Surface Alterations of Dental Implants: -

## TL;DR

This study compared three methods for cleaning dental implants and found that while some reduced surface roughness, they were less effective at removing bacteria than expected.

## Contribution

The study empirically evaluates the effectiveness of titanium curette, diode laser, and titanium brush for decontaminating dental implants.

## Key findings

- Titanium curette and titanium brush significantly reduced surface roughness compared to diode laser and control.
- Saline flush control showed the lowest bacterial counts, contrary to expectations.
- Titanium curette and brush were less effective at removing bacterial plaque than the control and diode laser.

## Abstract

The present study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of three
decontamination methods on the surface alterations of dental implants and
the removal of bacterial plaque from their surfaces.

In this experimental in vitro study, 24 titanium cylinders with sandblasted,
large-grit, acid-etched (SLA) surfaces were contaminated with Staphylococcus
aureus to simulate biofilm formation. Samples were randomly assigned to four
groups (n=6): titanium curette, diode laser, titanium brush, and saline
flush control. Surface roughness (Ra and Rz) was measured using scanning
electron microscopy (SEM) before and after cleaning. Colony-forming units
(CFUs) were quantified post-treatment to assess bacterial removal.
Statistical analyses included Kruskal-Wallis tests, Mann-Whitney pairwise
comparisons, and one-way ANOVA with post hoc LSD tests (α=0.05).

Surface roughness differed significantly among groups after cleaning (Ra,
P=.002; Rz, P=.002). Titanium curette and titanium brush produced smoother
surfaces than diode laser and control, with the curette achieving the
greatest reduction in roughness. CFU analysis revealed significant
differences among groups (F=3.26, P=.043). Contrary to expectations, the
saline flush control showed the lowest CFU counts, whereas titanium curette
and titanium brush exhibited higher bacterial counts than control (P.05),
and diode laser did not differ significantly from control (P=.151).

The titanium curette and titanium brush caused the samples' most significant
surface roughness changes. However, the effectiveness of these methods for
bacterial plaque removal was lower than that of the control group and the
Diode laser group.