Physical and chemical analysis of the titanium surface after chemical treatment of decontamination with chlorexidine: in vitro study

Abstract

Introduction

Treatments have been proposed for peri-implantitis aiming to decontaminate the implants` surface removing microorganisms associated with the disease.

Objective

The objective of this study was to evaluate the in vitro action of application of chlorhexidine digluconate (CLX) in the decontamination of titanium (Ti) discs with microtopography and its chemical-physical effect on the surface.

Material and method

Twenty Ti discs were exposed to the Escherichia coli inoculum for 24 hours. Distributed equally in 4 decontamination groups (n = 5): 1- one minute of exposure to the 0.12% CLX solution; 2- two minutes of exposure to the 0.12% CLX solution; 3- smear for 1 minute with 1% CLX gel; and 4- smearing for 1 minute with 2% CLX gel. The product was diluted and plated individually. After 24 hours, colony units formed (CFU) were counted.

Result

The group with the lowest number of CFU growth was group 4 (0.20 ± 0.37) with only one CFU in one of the samples. Followed by group 2 (0.40 ± 0.73), group 1 (18.60 ± 33.96), and group 3, which presented the highest amounts of CFU (36.07 ± 41.39). In all samples it was possible to observe a statistically significant decrease in the surface concentration of Ti, as well as an increase in Oxygen.

Conclusion

It can be concluded that the use of 2% CLX gel on Ti surfaces with microtopography contaminated with E.coli allows the elimination of CFU, and that its application results in a decrease in the percentage of Ti and an increase in the content of O.

Descriptors:
Chlorhexidine; peri-implantitis; dental implants