Combining Glycine Powder Air-Polishing and Ultrasonic Scaling for Bone Regeneration Around Infected Dental Implants

Objectives

In vitro studies were conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of combining glycine powder air-polishing (AP) and ultrasonic scaling (US) in surgical bone reconstructive therapy for peri-implantitis.

Materials and Methods

Twenty clinically failed implants and 60 pristine implants were treated in vitro with AP and/or US by using stainless steel, titanium, or carbon fiber tips. Implant surface topography, contaminant distribution, elemental proportion, and composition were analyzed using scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy.

Results

AP effectively removed bacterial plaques but was unable to eliminate calcified deposits involving calculi and bone fragments. Conversely, US exhibited a high capacity for removing calcified deposits but inevitably altered implant surface topography and the atomic percentages of oxygen (O) and titanium (Ti) regardless of the ultrasonic tip used. AP showed minimal effects on the implant surface and even alleviated the adverse effects of US on the surface topography and the atomic percentages of O, Ti, and even carbon. A sequential protocol involving AP followed by US, with a final AP step, effectively removed contaminants from infected implants while minimally affecting the original surface features.

Conclusions

The combined application of AP and US in surgical peri-implantitis therapy may be a preferred and effective approach for obtaining bone regeneration around infected dental implants.