Re-stability of dental implants following treatment of peri-implantitis

Non-surgical mechanical therapy of peri-implantitis with or without repeated adjunctive diode laser application. A 6-month double-blinded randomized clinical trial

Objectives

The objective of this study is to investigate the outcomes following non‐surgical therapy of peri‐implantitis (PI) with or without adjunctive diode laser application.

Materials and methods

A double‐blinded randomized controlled clinical trial was carried out in 25 subjects with 25 implants diagnosed with PI. Following curettage of granulation tissue, test implants (T) were treated with adjunctive application of a diode laser for 90 s (settings: 810 nm, 2.5 W, 50 Hz, 10 ms), while at control implants (C) non‐activated adjunctive diode laser was applied. The entire treatment procedure was performed at days 0 (i.e., baseline), 7 and 14. The primary outcome measure was change in mean pocket probing depth (PPD). Clinical and microbiological outcomes, as well as host‐derived inflammatory markers were evaluated at baseline, 3 and 6 months, while radiographic outcomes were assessed at baseline and at the 6‐month follow‐up.

Results

No statistically significant differences with respect to baseline patient characteristic were observed. After 6 months, both test and control implants yielded statistically significant PPD changes compared with baseline (T: 1.28 and C: 1.47 mm) but without statistically significant difference between groups (p = .381). No statistically significant changes in peri‐implant marginal bone levels were detected (p = .936). No statistically significant differences between test and control implants were observed with respect to microbiological and host‐derived parameters (p > .05). At the 6‐month follow‐up, treatment success was observed in 41.7% (n = 5) of test and 46.2% (n = 6) of control patients, respectively (p = .821).

Conclusion

Repeated adjunctive application of diode laser in the non‐surgical management of PI failed to provide significant benefits compared with mechanical instrumentation alone.

Association between age-related macular degeneration and periodontal and peri-implant diseases: a systematic review

The aim of the present systematic review was to assess the association between age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and periodontal and peri-implant diseases. The focused question was 'Is there a relationship between AMD and periodontal and peri-implant diseases?' Indexed databases were searched up to and including May 2020 to identify pertinent original studies. The Cochrane Collaboration's tool was used to assess the risk of bias. Five observational cohort studies were included that assessed the association between AMD and periodontitis. The number of patients with and without AMD ranged between 54 and 90 and 1697 and 12,171 individuals, respectively. Examiner blinding to the study groups was performed in 1 of the 5 studies. None of the studies were power adjusted. Scrutiny of studies showed that all 5 studies included in the present systematic review had a high risk of bias. Results from all studies reported a direct association between AMD and periodontitis. No studies assessed the association between AMD and peri-implant diseases. The association between AMD and periodontal and peri-implant diseases remains debatable. Further well-designed and power-adjusted studies are needed to determine whether or not a 'true' association exists between AMD and periodontal and peri-implant diseases.

Pure Titanium Membrane (Ultra - Ti®) in the Treatment of Periodontal Osseous Defects: A Split-Mouth Comparative Study

INTRODUCTION

Although many different types of Guided Tissue Regeneration (GTR) membranes (resorbable/non-resorbable, including titanium mesh) have been used in the field of Periodontics till now, but this is the first and only clinical study testing the effectiveness of an ultra thin pure Titanium Membrane (Ultra Ti) as a GTR membrane in infra-bony periodontal defects.

AIM

To compare the efficacy of GTR in intra-bony defects with newly introduced non-resorbable barrier membrane, made of titanium called "Ultra-Ti ^® GTR Membrane" versus open flap debridement.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A prospective, randomized, controlled, clinical split mouth study was designed wherein each patient received both the control and test treatment. Two similar defects were selected in each of the 12 patients and were randomly assigned to one of the two treatments. Both the surgeries consisted of identical procedures except for the omission of the barrier membrane in the control sites. Full mouth Plaque Index (PI), Gingival Index (GI), Pocket Probing Depth (PPD) and Relative Attachment Level (RAL) were recorded before surgery and after 6 months and 9 months along with hard tissue measurements at the time of surgery and then at re-entry after 9 months. Radiographs were also taken before surgery and 9 months post operatively. Student's paired t-test and unpaired t-test (SPSS software version 9) were used to analyze the results.

RESULTS

Nine months after treatment, the test defects gained 4.375 ± 1.189mm of RAL, while the control defects yielded a significantly lower RAL gain of 3.417 ± 0.996mm. Pocket reduction was also significantly higher in the test group (4.917 ± 0.996mm) when compared with the controls (3.83 ± 0.718mm). There was a significant bone fill (54.69% of defect fill) obtained in the test site, unlike the control site (8.91%).

CONCLUSION

The present study demonstrated that GTR with "Ultra-Ti^® GTR Membrane" resulted in a significant added benefit in comparison with open flap debridement.

The role of lasers in the treatment of peri-implant diseases: A review

We reviewed the indexed literature regarding the efficacy of laser therapy in the treatment of peri-implantitis (PI). Databases were searched using combinations of the following keywords: peri-implantitis, bone loss, photodynamic therapy, laser, and light-activated disinfection. Titles and abstracts of publications from these search results were screened to determine which studies fulfilled the eligibility criteria. Full texts of relevant studies were read and independently assessed against the eligibility criteria. The resulting 28 studies described the role of lasers in the treatment of PI. The erbium:yttrium–aluminum-garnet laser can be used to sterilize implant surfaces without damaging them. Likewise, the carbon dioxide laser can disinfect implant surfaces and enhance the bone-to-implant contact around previously infected sites. Photodynamic therapy exhibits high target specificity and can destroy pathogens associated with the etiology of PI. Laser therapy can significantly reduce levels of clinical markers of peri-implant tissue inflammation (i.e., bleeding upon probing and clinical attachment loss) without jeopardizing the integrity of the implant or alveolar bone. In conclusion, laser therapy as an adjunct to conventional mechanical debridement therapy can be used effectively for the treatment of PI.

Current concepts in the use of lasers in periodontal and implant dentistry

Lasers have various periodontal applications including calculus removal (Er: YAG, Er, Cr: YSGG lasers); soft tissue excision, incision and ablation; decontamination of root and implant surfaces; biostimulation; bacteria reduction; and osseous surgery. This paper reviews some of the major opportunities for using lasers in periodontal and implant specialty practices. The literature relating to the use of lasers for removal of the pocket epithelium, root conditioning, bacterial reduction and decontamination of infected implant surfaces is discussed, and a summary of the advantages and disadvantages of using lasers for periodontal treatment is provided.

Peri-implant diseases: a review of treatment interventions

The ideal management of peri-implant diseases focuses on infection control, detoxification of implant surfaces, regeneration of lost tissues, and plaque-control regimens via mechanical debridement (with or without raising a surgical flap). However, a variety of other therapeutic modalities also have been proposed for the management of peri-implantitis. These treatment strategies encompass use of antiseptics and/or antibiotics, laser therapy, guided bone regeneration, and photodynamic therapy. The aim of this article was to review indexed literature with reference to the various therapeutic interventions proposed for the management of peri-implant diseases.