IADR Abstract Archives
Monopolar Atmospheric Electrical Plasma for Disinfecting Implant Surfaces
Objectives: Bacterial infection of rough implant surfaces is one main reason for the inflammatory reaction of soft and hard tissues around the dental implant.
Conventional treatment attempts using brushes, curettes, powder water jet devices or antibiotics show insufficient results. Also adverse acute or long-term effects can be observed.
Recent research shows the efficacy of atmospheric electrical plasma in eradicating bacteria. A critical parameter for the success of the treatment with electrical plasma is the delivery of the adequate energy to the biofilm at the site of action, without altering or harming the surrounding tissues. Bipolar electrical setups are often not able to fulfill this task.
Methods: A new electrode setup has been developed to address this problem. One electrode is placed in a gas leading tube connected to a high voltage power source. A second electrode connected to the implant closes the electrical circuit. Thus, the ‘guided’ plasma is directly ignited on the implant surface protecting the surrounding tissues from accidental contact with the plasma. To evaluate the efficacy and the safety of the system multiple tests were conducted. Artificial biofilms were cultivated on titanium discs in vitro for 14 days. Cultivation, light microscopy and SEM were used to evaluate the absence of microorganisms. For safety analysis temperature measurement took place with and without simulating thermal conduction by surrounding tissues. As second safety parameter electrical discharge was measured with results compliant to EN 60601-1.
Results: This new technique eliminates the biofilm on contaminated titanium implant surfaces very effectively without leaving bacterial remnants on the implant surface. By electrically contacting the implant, the atmospheric pressure plasma is ignited solely on the implant surface and does not harm the surrounding tissues.
Conclusions: Further studies will be conducted to evaluate the efficacy, the safety and the change of the implant surface properties and its effect on cellular adhesion.
Conventional treatment attempts using brushes, curettes, powder water jet devices or antibiotics show insufficient results. Also adverse acute or long-term effects can be observed.
Recent research shows the efficacy of atmospheric electrical plasma in eradicating bacteria. A critical parameter for the success of the treatment with electrical plasma is the delivery of the adequate energy to the biofilm at the site of action, without altering or harming the surrounding tissues. Bipolar electrical setups are often not able to fulfill this task.
Methods: A new electrode setup has been developed to address this problem. One electrode is placed in a gas leading tube connected to a high voltage power source. A second electrode connected to the implant closes the electrical circuit. Thus, the ‘guided’ plasma is directly ignited on the implant surface protecting the surrounding tissues from accidental contact with the plasma. To evaluate the efficacy and the safety of the system multiple tests were conducted. Artificial biofilms were cultivated on titanium discs in vitro for 14 days. Cultivation, light microscopy and SEM were used to evaluate the absence of microorganisms. For safety analysis temperature measurement took place with and without simulating thermal conduction by surrounding tissues. As second safety parameter electrical discharge was measured with results compliant to EN 60601-1.
Results: This new technique eliminates the biofilm on contaminated titanium implant surfaces very effectively without leaving bacterial remnants on the implant surface. By electrically contacting the implant, the atmospheric pressure plasma is ignited solely on the implant surface and does not harm the surrounding tissues.
Conclusions: Further studies will be conducted to evaluate the efficacy, the safety and the change of the implant surface properties and its effect on cellular adhesion.