Scientists at the Institute of Medical Problems of the North KSC SB RAS and Siberian Federal University suppose that traces of foreign inorganic substances on the surface of new sterile dental implants can cause a dangerous infection - peri-implantitis, as is reported by RIA Novosti. The results of the study were published in the journal "Dentistry".

Dental implants have become a fashionable means of correcting defects in the dentition. There is an increasing number of complications associated with them, and cases of peri-implantitis, an infection in which soft tissues of the oral cavity become inflamed, hard tissues surrounding the implant are irreversibly destroyed, accompanied by gingival edema, bleeding and suppuration. This infection is treated with laser therapy, cleaning the implant surface from foreign substances and organisms. The implant surfaces, however, initially differ in purity, which largely depends on the manufacturer.

The Krasnoyarsk scientists compared the surface composition of implants from different manufacturers in laser-treated patients with intact implants, diagnosed with peri-implantitis. Having been used for 3-10 years, all the implants were removed due to the development of peri-implantitis in patients. As control samples, use was made of one implant from a sterile package from each manufacturer.

The surface of the untreated implants used was expectedly contaminated. There were a big amount of, carbon, phosphorus, sulfur, silicon and other substances formed during inflammation. After laser treatment, the surface became clean. The most interesting result was observed by scientists in the study of new implants. They found traces of inorganic compounds and a large number of extraneous chemical elements which could cause the disease. It was possible to clean the surface by using a laser.

The authors of the study believe that using laser radiation it is possible to effectively clean the surface of completely new implants from foreign impurities which can induce the body's immune response no worse than bacteria do.

Source: RIA Novosti