Nonsurgical Treatment of Peri-Implantitis: Case Series

Efficacy and safety of erythritol air-polishing in implant dentistry: A systematic review

OBJECTIVES

Professional oral hygiene is essential to prevent peri-implant disease. Appropriate instruments should be employed for implant-supported restorations: they should effectively remove deposits without damaging dental implant surface. The aim of the present systematic review is to investigate the efficacy and safety of erythritol air-polishing in implant-supported rehabilitations, compared to alternative hygienic techniques.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The guidelines reported in the indications of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) were employed for this systematic review. The focused question was: 'what is the effect of erythritol air-polishing on dental implant surfaces regarding its cleansing efficacy and/or safety?' The final online search was conducted on 13 August 2023; MEDLINE-PubMed, Scopus and Cochrane Library were employed. Comparative in vitro or in vivo original studies were included.

RESULTS

The initial database search yielded 128 entries; the final selection comprised 15 articles. The risk of bias was evaluated using the Newcastle Ottawa scale (NOS), the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions, GRADE method. Ultrasonic scaling with PEEK tips, glycine air-polishing and cold atmospheric plasma were the devices most frequently compared to erythritol powder in the included studies. Erythritol air-polishing appeared to be significantly more effective in reducing biofilm compared to other treatments, without causing any significant damage to the implant surface and peri-implant tissues, promoting a good biological response.

CONCLUSION

Erythritol air-polishing showed promising results for professional oral hygiene in implant-supported restorations. According to this systematic review, it is effective and safe for removing biofilm from titanium dental implants.

Interleukin-16 rs4072111 Polymorphism is Associated with the Risk of Peri-Implantitis in the Chinese Population

Purpose

Peri-implantitis (PI) is a major contributor to dental implant failure. Genetic predisposition plays an essential role in the development of PI. The purpose of this study was to investigate the correlation of IL-16 gene single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), rs11556218 and rs4072111, with PI at the gene level.

Patients and Methods

A total of 162 patients with PI and 162 cases with healthy implants were recruited as the case and control groups, respectively. The genotypes were analysed using direct sequencing. The genotype and allele proportion between the case and control groups were compared using the chi-square test. The periodontal status of patients carrying different genotypes was analysed, including gingival index, plaque index, calculus index, peri-implant pocket depth (PPD), and clinical attachment level (CAL).

Results

The case and control groups were age- and gender-matched. In the case group, the rs4072111 CT genotype was majorly observed, and the T allele carriers showed a high PI risk. Patients with the rs4072111 CT genotype had worse periodontal status, which was reflected by the higher levels of the gingival index, plaque index, calculus index, PPD and CAL. The distribution of the rs11556218 genotype and T allele showed no significant difference between the case and control groups (P > 0.05).

Conclusion

The CT genotype of IL-16 gene rs4072111 SNP can be used as a factor assessing PI risk. Therefore, IL-16 genetic variation may be related to PI susceptibility in the Chinese Han population.

Local/Topical Antibiotics for Peri-Implantitis Treatment: A Systematic Review

Most studies indicate that the mechanical removal of the bacterial biofilm from the implant surface is the central goal of peri-implantitis therapy. However, controversial results in the treatment of peri-implantitis have led to the consideration of additional strategies that include surgical approaches and chemical adjuvants. Local/topical antibiotics, such as minocycline, azithromycin, tetracycline, amoxicillin, doxycycline, and metronidazole, may improve the efficacy of the definitive treatment of the disease, but the lack of conclusive findings prevents their use in clinical practice. This systematic review aimed to evaluate the effect of local/topical antibiotics for peri-implantitis treatment. Randomised controlled studies (RCT) on patients with peri-implantitis and comparing the efficacy of local/topical antibiotics vs. placebo or mechanical debridement were included. A systematic search strategy was carried out using three registered databases (PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus). RoB2 was used to assess risk of bias. Five RCTs were identified (n = 250 patients and 333 implants). Contrast results emerged among the included studies, and a high heterogeneity level was observed. Risk of bias revealed some concerns for three studies out of five, while one study was judged at high risk. Only one study analysed the limitations of its findings. Overall, local antibiotic use can be considered a valid approach in the treatment of peri-implantitis. Therefore, future long-term clinical trials with standardised protocols and antibiotics with similar biological activity profiles should be tested to achieve a valid and definitive conclusion.