Titanium Brushes Match Implantoplasty for Dental Implant Infection Treatment

Aim To evaluate treatment outcomes following implantoplasty or the use of rotating titanium brushes in the surgical therapy of peri-implantitis. Materials and Methods Thirty patients with peri-implantitis in need of surgical treatment were enrolled in a 12-month randomised clinical trial with a non-inferiority set-up. Surface decontamination was performed using either titanium brushes (test group) or implantoplasty (control group). Clinical and radiographic parameters as well as patient-reported outcomes (Oral Health Impact Profile-14; OHIP-14) were evaluated. Results At 12 months, the composite outcome was achieved in 6/15 implants in the test group and in 4/15 in the control group. Probing pocket depth (PPD) values decreased by 3.6 +/- 1.5 mm (test) and 3.3 +/- 1.2 mm (control), demonstrating non-inferiority of the test procedure. Additional bone loss was observed in the control group (0.7 +/- 1.2 mm), while bone levels remained unchanged in the test group (0.0 +/- 0.6 mm). Baseline PPD (p = 0.044) and the presence of an adjacent implant affected by peri-implantitis (p = 0.033) were relevant factors for pocket closure (PPD <= 5 mm at 12 months). Time for surface decontamination was significantly less in the test (3 min 1 s) when compared to the control group (5 min 27 s) (p = 0.006). OHIP-14 scores were statistically indifferent. Conclusion Both groups showed favourable outcomes, demonstrating non-inferiority of titanium brushes to implantoplasty.