Comparative evaluation of the efficacy of 10% doxycycline gel and 1% chlorhexidine digluconate gel in the disinfection of sandblasted acid-etched titanium implant surface contaminated with Porphyromonas gingivalis.

Aim: The study evaluates the efficacy of 10% doxycycline gel and 1% chlorhexidine (CHX) gel in the disinfection of sandblasted acid-etched titanium implant surfaces contaminated with Porphyromonas gingivalis.

Materials and methods: Titanium implants were divided into two groups - Group A and Group B, which were further subdivided into three subgroups (A1, A2, and A3 and B1, B2, and B3). All the implants were contaminated with P. gingivalis. Group A was treated with 10% doxycycline gel, and Group B was treated with 1% CHX gel. After decontamination with antimicrobials, the residual viable P. gingivalis count was assessed using the culture method.

Results: At baseline, the mean values recorded for Group A and Group B were 120,000,000 colony-forming unit (CFU). On day 1, the mean values recorded were 3291.67 CFU (Group A1) and 0 CFU (Group B1). On days 3 and 7, the mean values for the remaining groups (A2, A3, B2, and B3) were 0 CFU.

Conclusion: A single application of 1% CHX gel and multiple applications of 10% doxycycline gel were effective in achieving decontamination of implants. Hence, these gels could prove as cost-effective treatment modalities for peri-implantitis.