Hifu In Removal Of Ti Attached S. Mutans Biofilms

The removal of pathogenic plaque biofilms is crucial for managing peri-implantitis, a growing challenge in modern dentistry. While various non-surgical approaches have been explored for this purpose, none have proven entirely effective. High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU), with its non-ionizing nature and minimal aerosol production, has the potential to deliver energy to microscopic surface irregularities of implants, making it a promising new method for biofilm removal. Machined and roughened titanium (Ti) discs and dental implants were characterised using SEM- EDS and the microscopic roughness was measured. Ten-day mature S. mutans biofilms grown on test Ti discs and implants were treated with optimised HIFU for 2 minutes in water . The residual biofilms were quantified using CV, MTT, and flow cytometry assays, and qualified using Dual Fluorescence/Reflection CLSM and SEM. Data from these test samples treated with optimised HIFU, and control samples with Airflow® were compared. ANOVA, and t-test were used for statistical analyses. Both optimised HIFU and Airflow® methods achieved similar levels of bacterial debridement, removing over 99% of bacteria in FCM assays. Complete biofilm removal was noted in HIFU-treated samples. The surface roughness of roughened Ti discs significantly increased following HIFU exposure ( p <0.05) HIFU and traditional methods was equally effective with Airflow® in removing the S. mutans biofilms from Ti surfaces. Further research is needed to explore the clinical application of HIFU in managing peri-implantitis and enhance surface cleanliness of Ti implants.