The Effect of In Vitro Electrolytic Cleaning on Biofilm-Contaminated Implant Surfaces

Abstract

Purpose: Bacterial biofilms are a major problem in the treatment of infected dental and orthopedic implants. The purpose of this study is to investigate the cleaning effect of an electrolytic approach (EC) compared to a powder-spray system (PSS) on titanium surfaces. Materials and Methods: The tested implants (different surfaces and alloys) were collated into six groups and treated ether with EC or PSS. After a mature biofilm was established, the implants were treated, immersed in a nutritional solution, and streaked on Columbia agar. Colony-forming units (CFUs) were counted after breeding and testing (EC), and control (PSS) groups were compared using a paired sample t-test. Results: No bacterial growth was observed in the EC groups. After thinning to 1:1,000,000, 258.1 ± 19.9 (group 2), 264.4 ± 36.5 (group 4), and 245.3 ± 40.7 (group 6) CFUs could be counted in the PSS groups. The difference between the electrolytic approach (test groups 1, 3, and 5) and PSS (control groups 2, 4, and 6) was statistically extremely significant (p-value < 2.2 × 10−16). Conclusion: Only EC inactivated the bacterial biofilm, and PSS left reproducible bacteria behind. Within the limits of this in vitro test, clinical relevance could be demonstrated.

Is Complete Re-Osseointegration of an Infected Dental Implant Possible? Histologic Results of a Dog Study: A Short Communication

“…This paper does not investigate the reasons for this observation. In the context of previous literature, it may be assumed that EC in contrast to CC removes the bacterial biofilm and other remnants to an extent that makes complete re-osseointegration possible [6,7]. The latter was proven through histology ( Figures 5-8).…”

“…A hygiene program was set up, and the implants were treated at T4 (8 months) by either CC or EC in a randomized manner with the use of sealed envelopes. The mode of action of EC has been described before [6,7]. In summary, the implants were negatively loaded with a current of around 5 V, and rinsed with an electrolyte which passed an anode inside a spray-head ( Figure 4c).…”

“…In summary, the implants were negatively loaded with a current of around 5 V, and rinsed with an electrolyte which passed an anode inside a spray-head ( Figure 4c). Sodium iodine (200 g/L), potassium iodine (200 g/L), and L (+)-lactic acid (20 g/L) were used as the electrolyte [6] and an early prototype of a spray-head ( Figure 4c) as the source of current (5 min, 400 mA) in the present study. The current directs anions and cations to the electric field.…”

“…This approach was chosen on the basis of previous studies [5]. A custom-made pilot series device and the pilot electrolyte (sodium and potassium iodine) of the in vitro study of Ratka et al [6] were used in this study. The aim of this short scientific communication is to share histologic results and to prove whether complete re-osseointegration is possible when EC has been used as a decontamination technique.…”

Investigation of different electrochemical cleaning methods on contaminated healing abutments in vitro: an approach for metal surface decontamination

“…Though, this current seemed to alter the titanium surfaces (blue discoloration) causing delay in maturation of osteoblasts growing on them [ 32 ], also generated a high voltage (ranged between 11 and 19 V). In addition, electrolytic cleaning with a voltage of 6 V into 5 min proved to achieve the adequate disinfection of biofilm-contaminated dental implants [ 33 ]. Therefore, a fixed voltage of 10 V applied for 5 min was used in the present study.…”