Adjunctive Electrolytic Implant Surface Decontamination in the Reconstructive Surgical Treatment of Peri‐Implantitis—A Randomized Clinical Trial

Objectives

The aim of this study was to evaluate the adjunctive effect of electrolytic cleaning in the surgical treatment of peri‐implantitis.

Materials and Methods

A total of 40 patients (44 implants) with peri‐implantitis‐associated intra‐bony defects were included in this single‐center randomized controlled trial. Surgical decontamination of implant surfaces was initiated by use of a rotating titanium brush. Following random allocation, adjunctive electrolytic cleaning was performed in the test group. Xenogeneic bone substitute and a resorbable collagen membrane were then used in both groups. Clinical parameters including probing pocket depth (PPD), bleeding/suppuration on probing, buccal mucosal recession (REC), and keratinized mucosa were assessed at 6 and 12 months. Radiographic marginal bone levels (MBL) and patient‐reported outcomes (PROs) were evaluated at 12 months. The primary outcome was a composite measure including implant survival, complete absence of BoP/SoP, PPD ≤ 5 mm and REC ≤ 1 mm at 12 months.

Results

At 12 months, no implants were lost. The composite outcome was complete at 27.3% of control and 40.0% of test implants ( p = 0.41 ). Mean PPD reductions were 4.5 ± 2.6 mm (control) and 3.8 ± 2.3 mm (test), while MBL gains were 1.9 ± 2.4 mm and 2.1 ± 2.0 mm, respectively. No significant intergroup differences were observed for any clinical, radiographic or PROs. Post‐surgical complications occurred in the test group.

Conclusions

Clinical, radiographic and patient‐reported outcomes of surgical therapy of peri‐implantitis were favorable at 12 months. The adjunctive use of electrolytic cleaning provided no added benefit over the use of a rotating titanium brush alone.

Trial Registration: ISRCTN17197337 (ISRCTN)