Clinical Research Directory

Microbiological Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Different Surface Decontamination Protocols for Dental Implants

The purpose of this prospective clinical study is to evaluate and compare the effectiveness of different cleaning (decontamination) methods for dental implants affected by peri-implantitis. Peri-implantitis is an inflammatory condition caused by a bacterial biofilm on the implant surface, which can lead to bone loss and implant failure if left untreated. Because the rough surface and threads of implants make them difficult to clean, finding the most effective decontamination method is critical for saving the implant. This study will include 90 healthy, non-smoking participants who have a bone-level dental implant affected by peri-implantitis without vertical bone loss. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of three treatment groups (30 implants per group) to undergo a specific decontamination procedure during their surgical treatment: Group 1 (Laser PDT): Decontamination using photodynamic therapy with a blue laser and riboflavin, followed by a sterile saline rinse. Group 2 (GalvoSurge): Decontamination using an electrolytic cleaning device, followed by a sterile saline rinse. Group 3 (Active Control): Decontamination using a 0.2% chlorhexidine gluconate rinse, which is the current standard of care. To measure the effectiveness of these treatments, researchers will take sterile swabs from the implant surface immediately before and after the decontamination process. These swabs will be analyzed using PCR to detect changes in the microbiological load of five specific bacteria known to cause gum and implant disease (Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, Porphyromonas gingivalis, Prevotella intermedia, Treponema denticola, and Tannerella forsythia). Following the decontamination and swabbing, all participants will receive a standard Guided Bone Regeneration (GBR) procedure using autogenous bone, a xenograft, and a collagen membrane to help rebuild the bone around the implant. By comparing the microbiological results before and after treatment, the study aims to determine whether the newer methods (Laser PDT or electrolytic cleaning) are more effective at removing harmful bacteria than the traditional chlorhexidine rinse prior to bone regeneration.

Accuracy of Computer-assisted Template-based Implant Placement Using Conventional or Digital Impression

Proper implant position has a significant impact in esthetic and functional outcomes of implant-supported restorations. Computer-assisted template-based implant placement (guided surgery) have become increasingly popular due to improved planning and the higher transfer accuracy of the virtual plan to the surgical site compared with freehand insertion or freehand final drilling. Digital impressions replace the need for traditional materials that can be inconvenient and messy for patients. To the best of our knowledge, at the time of planning this study, there were no published RCTs evaluating a fully digital approach for computer-assisted template-based implant placement. The aim of the present study is to compare early implant failure, template-related complications, and virtual planning accuracy of computer-assisted template-based implant placement using conventional impression and scan model or digital impression. The null hypothesis is that there will be no difference between these interventions.

Effect of Simplified Implant Placement Protocols on Failure Rate

The primary objective of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of implant treatment in an unselected patient population as measured through implant failure.