Academy of Laser Dentistry

J O U R N A L O F L A S E R D E N T I S T R Y | 2 011 V O L . 19 , N O . 3
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R E S E A R C H A B S T R A C T S
E F F E C T S O F T H E N D : YA G D E N TA L L A S E R O N P L A S M A - S P R AY E D
A N D H Y D R O X YA PAT I T E - C OAT E D T I TA N I U M D E N TA L I M P L A N T S :
S U R FA C E A LT E R AT I O N A N D AT T E M P T E D S T E R I L I Z AT I O N
The Nd:YAG dental laser has been recommended for a
number of applications, including the decontamination
or sterilization of surfaces of dental implants that are
diseased or failing. The effects of laser irradiation in
vitro (1) on the surface properties of plasma-sprayed
titanium and plasma-sprayed hydroxyapatite-coated
titanium dental implants, and (2) on the potential to
sterilize those surfaces after contamination with spores
of Bacillus subtilis have been examined. Surface effects
were examined by scanning electron microscopy, energy
dispersive spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction after
laser irradiation at 0.3, 2.0, and 3.0 W using either
contact or noncontact handpieces. Controls received no
I N V I T R O E VA LU AT I O N O F T H E B I O C O M PAT I B I L I T Y O F
C O N TA M I N AT E D I M P L A N T S U R FA C E S T R E AT E D W I T H
A N E R : YA G L A S E R A N D A N A I R P O W D E R S Y S T E M
Matthias Kreisler, Wolfgang Kohnen, Ann-Babett Christoffers,
Hermann Götz, Bernd Jansen, Heinz Duschner, Bernd d’Hoedt
Titanium platelets with a sand-blasted and acid-etched
surface were coated with bovine serum albumin and
incubated with a suspension of Porphyromonas gingivalis
(ATCC 33277). Four groups with a total of 48 specimens
were formed. Laser irradiation of the specimens (n = 12)
was performed on a computer-controlled XY translation
stage at pulse energy 60 mJ and frequency 10 pps.
Twelve specimens were treated with an air powder
system. After the respective treatment, human gingival
fibroblasts were incubated on the specimens. The proliferation
rate was determined by means of fluorescence
activity of a redox indicator (Alamar Blue Assay) which is
reduced by metabolic activity related to cellular growth.
Proliferation was determined up to 72 h. Contaminated
and nontreated as well as sterile specimens served as
positive and negative controls. Proliferation activity was
Carl M. Block, John A. Mayo, Gerald H. Evans
Louisiana State University Medical Center, New Orleans, Louisiana
Int J Oral Maxillofac Implants 1992;7(4):441-449
Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
Clin Oral Implants Res 2005;16(1):36-43
laser irradiation. Melting, loss of porosity, and other
surface alterations were observed on both types of
implants, even with the lowest power setting. For the
sterilization study, both types of implants were first
sterilized by exposure to ethylene oxide and then
contaminated with spores of B. subtilis. After laser irradiation,
the implants were transferred to sterile growth
medium and incubated. Laser irradiation did not sterilize
either type of implant. The spore-contaminated
implants in the control group were successfully sterilized
with ethylene oxide.
Copyright 1992 Quintessence Publishing Co., Inc. nn
significantly (Mann-Whitney U-test, P < 0.05) reduced on
contaminated and nontreated platelets when compared
to sterile specimens. Both on laser as well as air powdertreated
specimens, cell growth was not significantly
different from that on sterile specimens. Air powder
treatment led to microscopically visible alterations of the
implant surface whereas laser-treated surfaces remained
unchanged. Both air powder and Er:YAG laser irradiation
have a good potential to remove cytotoxic bacterial
components from implant surfaces. At the irradiation
parameters investigated, the Er:YAG laser ensures a reliable
decontamination of implants in vitro without
altering surface morphology.
Copyright 2005 Blackwell Publishing and the European
Association for Osseointegration nn