Effectiveness of Implant Surface Decontamination Using a High-Pressure Sodium Bicarbonate Protocol: An In Vitro Study

Objectives: To evaluate the effectiveness of a high-pressure sodium bicarbonate spray protocol to decontaminate implant surfaces intentionally inoculated with bacteria. Materials and Methods: Twenty commercially pure titanium implants, 10 with machined surfaces and 10 with rough surfaces, were inoculated with Streptococcus sanguis and then submitted to a decontamination protocol using a high-pressure sodium bicarbonate spray device for 1 minute under aseptic conditions. Results: After the application of the decontamination protocol, all bacterial cells were removed from the tested implants, regardless of surface roughness. Conclusion: The results suggest that regardless of the implant surface roughness, the protocol using high-pressure sodium bicarbonate spray for 1 minute, under aseptic conditions, was effective in removing all the viable bacterial cells. (Implant Dent 2012;21:390-393)