The Decontamination Effect of an Oscillating Chitosan Brush Compared With an Ultrasonic PEEK-Tip: An In Vitro Study Using a Dynamic Biofilm Model.

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to assess the effect of an oscillating chitosan brush (OCB) compared with an ultrasonic device with PEEK tip (US-PEEK) for mechanical implant surface decontamination using an in vitro model combining 3D models and a validated dynamic multispecies biofilm.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A multispecies biofilm using six bacterial strains (Streptococcus oralis, Veillonella parvula, Actinomyces naeslundii, Fusobacterium nucleatum, Porphyromonas gingivalis, and Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans) was seeded on dental implants with machined and sandblasted, large-grit and acid-etched (SLA) surfaces. These were installed in 3D models depicting peri-implant defect. Mechanical decontamination was performed for 120 s using either an OCB or a US-PEEK. A negative control group received no treatment. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to evaluate the bacterial composition and quantitative PCR (qPCR) analyzed the number of each bacterial species [colony-forming units per milliliter (CFU/mL)].

RESULTS

Well-structured biofilms with a dense microbial distribution were observed on the negative control implants after 72 h. qPCR following mechanical decontamination showed a scarce bacterial reduction in the OCB group. The US-PEEK group exhibited a significant decrease in bacterial species compared to both OCB and control groups (p < 0.05). A biofilm removal effect was also observed in the OCB group for the machined implant surfaces.

CONCLUSION

In vitro assessment using an anatomical 3D model showed that mechanical decontamination effectively reduced biofilm. The US-PEEK group demonstrated biofilm reduction on the SLA surface, while the OCB group showed a reduction on the machined implant surface. Additionally, the US-PEEK group demonstrated greater efficacy in reducing bacterial numbers.