Treatment of peri‐implant mucositis with a chitosan brush—A pilot randomized clinical trial

OBJECTIVE This aim of this study was to evaluate a chitosan brush for the treatment of peri-implant mucositis. MATERIALS AND METHODS A total of 11 patients with a combined total of 24 dental implants and who were diagnosed with peri-implant mucositis were included in this 6-month, split mouth, pilot clinical trial. Implants were randomly assigned to either treatment with a chitosan brush using an oscillating dental hand piece or treatment with titanium curettes. Supportive treatment was provided at 3 months. Two calibrated periodontists, blinded to treatment group, performed all examinations, including probing pocket depths (PPD) and bleeding on probing (mBoP). The changes in clinical parameters were compared between groups at 2 weeks, 4 weeks and 6 months. A Mann-Whitney U test with an alpha level of 0.05 was used for the statistical analyses. RESULTS Both groups demonstrated significant reductions in mBoP between baseline and 6 months. The test implants treated with the chitosan brush had a better improvement in mBoP at 2 weeks and 4 weeks compared to the implants treated with the titanium curettes. The reduction in PPD was significantly better in the test group at 4 weeks. All implants had stable bone levels, as seen on radiographs between baseline and 6 months. CONCLUSION Reduced signs of inflammation were seen in both groups 6 months after the baseline treatment and 3 months after maintenance. A chitosan brush seems to be a safe and efficient device for debridement of dental implants.