Observational StudyAntiseptic Effects on the Dental Implant Internal Surface Microbiome

Soldiers operate in environments that are more likely to lead to oral trauma, risking poor dentition which can directly impact military readiness. Dental restoration can often be accomplished via dental implant insertion. Microbiome-associated complications that result in bone loss, including the micro-leakage of bacterial species proliferating in the dental implant internal cavity, frequently lead to implant failure. Reduction in implant bacterial load may result in a shift of the composition of the microbiome in favor of less pathogenic species, potentially improving dental implant success rates, reducing surgical revisions, and associated cost savings. This study aims to determine how disinfectant gel (hydrogen peroxide or chlorhexidine) insertion into dental implant internal cavities affects implant failure rates, bacterial load and microbiome composition.