Purpose: The increasing use of dental implants in oral rehabilitation has contributed to the increase of cases of peri-implantitis, a complex clinical condition that persists without an ideal treatment protocol. Therefore, this study aimed to verify the decontaminating action of the sodium bicarbonate jet in vitro, using different protocols, and the presence of visible changes on the surface of dental implants.

Materials and methods: Sixteen titanium implants (BioHE, Bioconnect) were used, divided into four groups (four implants per group): sterile implants (S)-negative control; implants contaminated with oral biofilm (C)-positive control; and implants contaminated with oral biofilm and decontaminated with a sodium bicarbonate jet for 30 seconds (J30) or 60 seconds (J60). The implants of groups C, J30, and J60 were contaminated in vitro with oral biofilm, then groups J30 and J60 received the respective decontamination treatments. Microbiologic analysis was performed by counting the colony-forming units (CFUs), and a qualitative descriptive analysis of the implant surface was performed after microbiologic analysis using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Statistical analysis included one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Tukey tests and the independent t test, with a .05 significance level.

Results: There was a significant reduction (P < .01) in the number of CFUs in groups J30 (3.63 × 10⁶ ± 0.32) and J60 (2.74 × 10⁶ ± 0.21) compared with group C (5.05 × 10⁶ ± 0.43). Both decontaminated groups were statistically different from group S, which did not show bacterial growth (P < .01). When groups J30 and J60 were compared, there was also a significant difference between them (P < .01), and the group J60 showed greater decontaminating potential. The descriptive qualitative analysis did not show any visible changes on the surface of the implants.

Conclusion: The sodium bicarbonate jet was effective in decontaminating titanium implants in vitro, causing no visible damage to the implant surface.