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Nanotechnology has become an emerging research field with numerous biomedical scientific applications. Silver possesses bactericidal activities that have been harnessed for centuries; however, there is a concern about the toxic effects of silver nanoparticles. This paper aims to provide an overview of silver-treated dental implants and discuss their potential to reduce the prevalence of peri-implant diseases. An electronic search was performed using PubMed. After screening, data extraction was performed on the 45 remaining articles using inclusion and exclusion criteria. Most of the articles demonstrated that silver nanoparticles embedded in a coating layer and/or on surface-treated titanium exhibit sound antibacterial effects and biocompatibility. Most of the reviewed studies revealed that silver nanoparticles on dental implant surfaces reduced cytotoxicity but provided a prolonged antibacterial effect. The cytotoxicity and antibacterial effect are closely linked to how the silver nanoparticles are released from the titanium surfaces, where a slower release increases cell viability and proliferation. However, to improve the clinical translation, there is still a need for more studies, especially evaluating the long-term systemic effects and studies recreating the conditions in the oral cavity.

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Objectives: Peri-implant tissue maintenance and treatment is becoming a serious challenge in implantology. With increasing numbers of implants being placed, more cases of peri-implant mucositis and peri-implantitis is seen. A digital survey on peri-implant disease management was issued to experts in periodontology and implantology to identify the tools and procedures most commonly used today to treat peri-implant diseases and successfully manage peri-implant health. The primary aim was to assess whether there is consensus in the choice of treatment to manage peri-implant diseases and to prevent their recurrence once treated. The secondary aim was to obtain insight into future protocols and /or devices, and the research and development needed.Materials and Methods: Participants in this digital survey were professionals specialising in periodontology, oral surgery, and implant dentistry. The questionnaire included both a series of closed- and open-ended questions. A total of 16 countries participated. The survey was sent by e-mail to 70 individuals, 66 received the survey and 37 of receivers responded, two of the participants were excluded due to insufficient filling of the survey. In the end 35 respondents completed the survey.Results: Respondents agree that the efficacy of mechanical and chemical decontamination of implant surfaces needs to be improved and better documented. It is a common opinion that the current remedies, mostly adapted from periodontal practises, do not provide effective and reliable clinical outcomes when treating peri-implant ailments. There is a general agreement amongst experts that regularly scheduled (3–6-month intervals) maintenance treatments are essential for maintaining peri-implant health in patients experiencing implant complications. Respondents are also concerned about unnecessary use of systemic antibiotics for managing peri-implant health.Conclusion: Regardless of agreements in parts, there was no observed consensus on the most effective treatment options for treating peri-implantitis. The experts all agree it is an urgent need for well-designed, long-term follow-up randomised and controlled clinical trials comparing interventions to provide an evidence-based strategy for peri-implant health management.

Surface chemistry evaluation plays a crucial role in assessing the efficacy of chemical decontamination products for titanium implants. This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of chemical decontamination solutions in cleaning a contaminated dental implant surface and to evaluate the potential of combining Pluronic gel with hydrogen peroxide (NuBone®Clean) by evaluating pellicle disruption and re-formation on implant surfaces. In addition, ensuring safety with in- vitro and human testing protocols. X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) was utilized for surface analysis. All the tested gels had some effect on the surface cleanness except for PrefGel®. Among the tested chemical decontamination candidates, NuBone®Clean demonstrated effectiveness in providing a cleaner titanium surface. Furthermore, none of the tested chemical agents exhibited any cytotoxic effects, and the safety assessment showed no adverse events. The results of this study highlight the significance of conducting comprehensive evaluations, encompassing safety and efficacy, before introducing new chemical agents for dental treatments. The findings suggest that NuBone®Clean shows potential as a chemical decontamination solution for implant surfaces. However, further investigation through randomized clinical trials is necessary. By adhering to rigorous testing protocols, the development of safe and efficient chemical decontamination strategies can be advanced, benefiting patients and promoting progress in the field of implant dentistry.

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Background This study aimed to determine the degree of similarity and symmetry in the anatomy of contralateral mandibular incisors. Three-dimensional (3D) models of extracted teeth were obtained from microtomography (micro-CT) scans. Qualitative and quantitative assessments of the morphology and comparison of contralateral pairs were made. The null hypothesis was that contralateral mandibular incisors could not be considered identical in simple morphometric measurements. Methods Sixty pairs of mandibular incisors were extracted from 30 patients and scanned with micro-CT. Virtual models of the cemento-enamel junction to the root apex were rendered. Parameters such as length, canal width, dentinal thicknesses, tortuosity, centerline length, accessory canals, root canal configurations, and root canal orifice cross sections were used to compare the teeth. Width and thickness comparisons between paired teeth in the same individual were made by paired t-test (Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test for variables not normally distributed). An online randomization tool generated randomized pairs (independent of the individual/patient). Subsequently, an unpaired t-test (or Mann-Whitney U test for non-normally distributed parameters) and a correlation analysis were conducted. Canal configurations were classified according to preexisting classification schemes. The number and location of accessory canals and apical foramina were registered and compared. Results Contralateral mandibular incisors showed high similarity in the selected linear parameters (lengths, widths, and thicknesses). The apical third showed a high degree of inter-variability for the contralateral pairs. The comprehensive statistical analysis of the normalized parameters by Z score showed no statistically significant differences between the contralateral mandibular incisors. Conclusions The findings of this study further establish the significant similarities between contralateral mandibular incisors, reinforcing their suitability as a reliable substrate for root canal comparison studies.

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