Evaluation of new strategies to control dental biofilms and related diseases

Microbial biofilms display high tolerance towards antimicrobial agents and evade the host immune system. It has been estimated that they are involved in about 65% of all human infections. Periodontitis and peri-implantitis are two examples of biofilm-induced inflammatory diseases. The lack of predictable treatments in specific clinical situations, such as severe or refractory forms, calls for new research in order to analyze in details existing anti-infective strategies and to develop new options. This was conducted along the present work with a special emphasis given to peri-implantitis since the management of this pathology does not have yet clear guidelines. Several antimicrobials were tested in vitro against pathogenic biofilms. Then, low direct electric currents (5 and 10mA) were applied to chlorhexidine and an enhanced antimicrobial efficacy was observed. Additionally, glycine air-polishing and implantoplasty were clinically demonstrated as valuable methods to treat peri-implantitis unlike plastic curettes. These findings open the way for new composite therapeutic approaches and encourage further research in that way.(DENT - Sciences dentaires) -- UCL, 201