title: Chemical debridement of contaminated titanium surfaces: an in vitro study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the efficacy of different chemical solutions when used for chemical debridement of biofilm contaminated titanium surfaces in an in-vitro experimental study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Commercially pure titanium discs with a diameter of 6.2 mm and height of 2 mm, mirror-polished with a measured surface amplitude value SA = 0.037 μm ± 0.009 were used as test-surfaces. A biofilm was simulated with multi-layers of Staphylococcus epidermidis ATCC359844 covering the entire titanium surface. The chemical agents tested were: 3% H2O2, 0.2% Chlorhexidine, 24% EDTA-gel, 3% H2O2 mixed with 1.6 g/L TiO2 and sterile saline solution. The decontamination effect was evaluated by optical density analysis using spectrophotometry and with scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images of the remaining biofilm.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The suspensions of 3% H2O2 and 1.6 g/L TiO2 or 3% H2O2 alone were the most effective in removing S. epidermidis biofilms (p < 0.05), whereas 0.2% chlorhexidine or 24% EDTA gel had no significant effects. SEM images of the remaining biofilms supported the quantitative results indicating the higher efficacy of 3% H2O2 and 1.6 g/L TiO2 or 3% H2O2 alone. It also revealed that EDTA, despite a non-significant effect on reducing the amount of established biofilms, was able to alter the biofilm architecture, as demonstrated by increased interspaced regions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this in vitro study the decontamination potential of a suspension of 3% H2O2 and 1.6 g/L TiO2 or 3% H2O2 alone were encouraging. Whether such procedures would have a similar effect in vivo remains to be determined.
authors.affiliation: Department of Prosthetic Dentistry and Oral Function, Faculty of Dentistry,University of Oslo, Blindern, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Elisabet
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Henderson
authors.forename: Sigurd
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Schneider
authors.forename: Fernanda C
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Petersen
authors.forename: Håvard J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Haugen
authors.forename: Johan Caspar
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Wohlfahrt
authors.forename: Karl
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ekstrand
authors.forename: Anders
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ekfeldt
mesh_terms: D018441:Biofilms; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D013212:Staphylococcus epidermidis / Q000502:physiology; D013499:Surface Properties; D014025:Titanium
chemical_list: D014025:Titanium