Antibacterial silver ion-coated dental implants suppress peri-implantitis in a murine model

Abstract

Abstract Peri-implantitis, an inflammatory condition caused by bacterial infection around an implant, is currently the leading cause of implant failure. Porphyromonas gingivalis ( P. gingivalis ), an anaerobic bacterial pathogen associated with periodontitis, is known to play a key role in peri-implantitis. To address this issue, the present study examined the antibacterial properties of silver ion (Ag + )-coated titanium implants against P. gingivalis and their ability to prevent bone loss. Ag + -coated implants, i.e., Ti implants coated with Ag + ions on a hydroxyapatite film chelated with inositol hexaphosphate, demonstrated significant antibacterial activity against P. gingivalis in the Ti wire configuration in inhibition zone assays ( n  = 4 per group). Furthermore, in a murine model of ligature-induced peri-implantitis, these implants significantly reduced alveolar bone resorption compared to uncoated titanium controls. This preclinical study suggests that applying an Ag + coating to dental implants is an effective strategy for preventing P. gingivalis –induced peri-implantitis. In the control group, bone loss of 19–25% relative to baseline was observed at day 28, whereas the Ag + -coated group exhibited only 15–20% bone loss ( n  = 8 per group per time point). These findings suggest the potential of Ag + coating as a preventive strategy against peri-implantitis-associated bone loss.