In vitro evaluation of the biocompatibility of contaminated implant surfaces treated with an Er : YAG laser and an air powder system

Abstract

Titanium platelets with a sand-blasted and acid-etched surface were coated with bovine serum albumin and incubated with a suspension of Porphyromonas gingivalis (ATCC 33277). Four groups with a total of 48 specimens were formed. Laser irradiation of the specimens (n = 12) was performed on a computer-controlled XY translation stage at pulse energy 60 mJ and frequency 10 pps. Twelve specimens were treated with an air powder system. After the respective treatment, human gingival fibroblasts were incubated on the specimens. The proliferation rate was determined by means of fluorescence activity of a redox indicator (Alamar Blue Assay) which is reduced by metabolic activity related to cellular growth. Proliferation was determined up to 72 h. Contaminated and non-treated as well as sterile specimens served as positive and negative controls. Proliferation activity was significantly (Mann-Whitney U-test, P < 0.05) reduced on contaminated and non-treated platelets when compared to sterile specimens. Both on laser as well as air powder-treated specimens, cell growth was not significantly different from that on sterile specimens. Air powder treatment led to microscopically visible alterations of the implant surface whereas laser-treated surfaces remained unchanged. Both air powder and Er : YAG laser irradiation have a good potential to remove cytotoxic bacterial components from implant surfaces. At the irradiation parameters investigated, the Er : YAG laser ensures a reliable decontamination of implants in vitro without altering surface morphology.

Efficacy of Antimicrobial Photodynamic Therapy as an Adjunctive to Mechanical Debridement in the Treatment of Peri-implant Diseases: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial

“…15 Moreover, some of these treatment modalities led to undesirable outcomes such as implant surface alteration, bacterial resistance. 16,17 So, novel approaches are still necessary to solve this problem. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a simple, non-invasive technique that proved to have anti-bacterial effects according to the findings of previous authors.…”

Lasers in Periodontics: Review of Literature

“…A recent study demonstrated that treatment of P.gingivalis-contaminated sand-blasted and acid-etched titanium implant surfaces using Er:YAG laser irradiation is capable of allowing attachment of osteoblast cells (8). In another study, it was reported that Er:YAG laser irradiation treatment of P.gingivalis-contaminated rough titanium surfaces resulted in greater fibroblast proliferation on the implant surfaces when compared with sterile specimens (63). In addition, no temperature elevations at the implant-bone interface during implant surface decontamination with the use of the Er:YAG laser in vivo were reported (64).…”

Novel Models to Manage Biofilms on Microtextured Dental Implant Surfaces

“…Romanos et al [75] established that cell attachment and morphology after laser irradiation is equal to that of sterile implant surfaces. Kreisler et al [47] examined the biocompatibility of contaminated implant surfaces after treatment with either a particle beam device or the Er:YAG laser. The lowest cell growth and proliferation was seen for contaminated Ti surfaces, while cell growth was significantly greater on sterile (new), air powdertreated, and Er:YAG laser-cleaned surfaces.…”

“…Several manufacturers have fabricated tip designed to apply the particle beam into subgingival implant surfaces; however, the pattern of the threads causes many regions on the surface to be protected. It must be recognized that air-powder abrasion causes undesirable microscopic alterations of titanium implant surfaces, and so are not ideal [47].…”