title: Static biofilm removal around ultrasonic tips in vitro.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aims to investigate the biofilm removal capacity of two ultrasonic tips under standardized conditions using a multi-species biofilm model.
  
  
  METHODS
  Six-species biofilms were grown on hydroxyapatite discs for 64.5 h and were treated for 15 s with a standardized load of 40 g with a piezoelectric or magnetostrictive device. Tips were applied either with the tip end or with the side facing downwards. Detached bacteria were determined in the supernatant and colony-forming units (CFUs) counted after 72 h of incubation. Untreated specimens served as controls. Moreover, the biofilms remaining on the hydroxyapatite surface after treatment were stained using the Live/Dead stain, and the pattern of their detachment was assessed by confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM).
  
  
  RESULTS
  As compared to the untreated control, it was found that only a side application of the magnetostrictive device was able to remove efficiently the biofilm. In contrast, its tip application as well as both applications of the piezoelectric device removed significantly less bacteria from the biofilm structure. These findings were corroborated by CLSM observation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Both ultrasonic tips under investigations led to bacterial detachment, but the action mode as well as the tip configuration and adaptation appeared to be influenced by the biofilm removal effectiveness.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Biofilm removal remains a main goal of ultrasonic debridement. This should be reflected in respective laboratory investigations. The presented combination of methods applied on a multi-species biofilm model in vitro allows the evaluation of the effectiveness of different ultrasonic scaler applications.
authors: Section for Oral Microbiology and General Immunology, Institute of Oral Biology, Center of Dental Medicine, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
authors: Thomas
authors: T
authors: Thurnheer
authors: Elodie
authors: E
authors: Rohrer
authors: Georgios N
authors: GN
authors: Belibasakis
authors: Thomas
authors: T
authors: Attin
authors: Patrick R
authors: PR
authors: Schmidlin
mesh_terms: D018441:Biofilms; D003762:Dental Instruments; D012534:Dental Scaling / Q000295:instrumentation*; D017886:Durapatite; D004867:Equipment Design; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D014464:Ultrasonic Therapy / Q000295:instrumentation*
chemical_list: D017886:Durapatite