In vitro evaluation of the antibiofilm properties of chlorhexidine and delmopinol on dental implant surfaces

Biofilm development on the internal surfaces of dental implants and dental implant components may be associated with peri-implant hard and soft tissue abnormalities. Currently, no protocols have been established for effective disinfection of removable implant components. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the antibiofilm properties of commonly used dental antimicrobial agents (chlorhexidine and delmopinol) on multispecies biofilms. Biofilms of 48 h and 168 h maturity were exposed to 0.2% chlorhexidine, 2% chlorhexidine and a product containing 0.2% delmopinol for 5, 10 and 20 min. 2% chlorhexidine was the most effective agent, achieving a total viable biofilm reduction ranging from 96.2% to >99.99% depending on the time of exposure and the stage of biofilm development.