The effect of the local use of chlorhexidine in surgical treatment of experimental peri‐implantitis in dogs

AIM: To evaluate the effect of surgical treatment of experimental peri-implantitis at implants with different surface characteristics using different anti-infective procedures. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Four implants with different surface characteristics (A: TiOblast, B: OsseoSpeed, C: AT-I, D: TiUnite) were installed in a randomized order in each side of the mandible in 6 labrador dogs 3 months after tooth extraction. Experimental peri-implantitis was induced 3 months later. Surgical treatment of peri-implantitis was performed. The implants were cleaned with gauze soaked in either saline (control) or chlorhexidine (test). Clinical and radiographical examinations were performed and microbiological samples were taken during a 6-month period after surgery. Biopsies were obtained and prepared for histological analysis. RESULTS: Clinical signs of soft tissue inflammation were reduced after surgical therapy in most test and control sites. While the analysis of bone level alterations in radiographs together with histological and microbiological assessments of resolution of peri-implantitis lesions failed to demonstrate statistically significant differences between test and control procedures, the evaluations disclosed significant differences between implant D and implants A, B and C on treatment outcome. CONCLUSION: It is suggested that (i) the local use of chlorhexidine has minor influence on treatment outcome, (ii) resolution of peri-implantitis following surgical treatment without the adjunctive use of local and systemic antimicrobial agents is possible and (iii) the results are influenced by implant surface characteristics.