SARS CoV-2 IgG seropositivity post-vaccination among dental professionals: a prospective study.

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic has spread very rapidly around the world. Various regional and national lockdowns were imposed to control the spread. Meanwhile, vaccine development and population vaccination were the next steps for pandemic control. Workers in the dental field, both dentists and dental assistants, however, were close to the sources of aerosol generated during dental procedures and thus were the group of workers the most exposed to COVID-19 infection. The aim of our study was to monitor the immune response before and after the vaccine in a high-risk population, composed by dental professionals. METHODS: A clinical prospective study was carried out among dental professionals at the Academic Dental Polyclinic, Wroclaw Medical University (Wroclaw, Lower Silesia region, Poland). Blood samples were collected at an interval of one year - March/April 2020, before the vaccination against COVID-19, and April 2021, after the vaccination. The analysis was performed on serum with four different methods: qualitative, semi-quantitative, and quantitative IgG count for SARS-CoV-2, and SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies. RESULTS: A total of 42 healthy adult volunteers participated in the study. The results showed a statistically significant difference (p < 0.05) in antibody levels before and after vaccination (1st and 2nd measurement) for each test method. The tests that were used affected the results and the test that showed the strongest relationship with the result was the Qualitative test. CONCLUSIONS: Dental professionals are the adult working population most at risk for COVID-19. Monitoring SARS-CoV-2-status-related seropositivity can provide useful information occupational risk factors for dental professionals.

Technological Aspects and Evaluation Methods for Polymer Matrices as Dental Drug Carriers.

The development of polymer matrices as dental drug carriers takes into account the following technological aspects of the developed formulations: the composition and the technology used to manufacture them, which affect the properties of the carriers, as well as the testing methods for assessing their behavior at application sites. The first part of this paper characterizes the methods for fabricating dental drug carriers, i.e., the solvent-casting method (SCM), lyophilization method (LM), electrospinning (ES) and 3D printing (3DP), describing the selection of technological parameters and pointing out both the advantages of using the mentioned methods and their limitations. The second part of this paper describes testing methods to study the formulation properties, including their physical and chemical, pharmaceutical, biological and in vivo evaluation. Comprehensive in vitro evaluation of carrier properties permits optimization of formulation parameters to achieve prolonged retention time in the dynamic oral environment and is essential for explaining carrier behavior during clinical evaluation, consequently enabling the selection of the optimal formulation for oral application.

Mechanical Properties, Fractal Dimension, and Texture Analysis of Selected 3D-Printed Resins Used in Dentistry That Underwent the Compression Test.

Three-dimensional printing is finding increasing applications in today's world. Due to the accuracy and the possibility of rapid production, the CAD/CAM (computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing) technology has become the most desired approach in the preparation of elements, especially in medicine and dentistry. This study aimed to compare the biomechanical properties, fractal dimension (FD), and texture of three selected materials used for 3D printing in dentistry. Three biomaterials used in 3D printing were evaluated. The materials were subjected to the compression test. Then, their mechanical features, FD, and texture were analyzed. All the tested materials showed different values for the studied properties. The only statistically insignificant difference was observed for the force used in the compression test. All three materials showed differences in width and height measurements. The difference in the decrease between the compression plates was also significant. For Dental LT Clear, the mean value was 0.098 mm (SD = 0.010), while for BioMed Amber it was 0.059 mm (SD = 0.019), and for IBT it was 0.356 mm (SD = 0.015). The nominal strain also differed between the materials. IBT had the highest mean value (7.98), while BioMed Amber had the smallest (1.31). FD analysis revealed that Dental LT Clear did not show differences in the structure of the material. The other two materials showed significant changes after the compression test. Texture analysis (TA) revealed similar results: BioMed Amber resin showed significantly less pronounced texture changes compared to the other two materials. BioMed Amber also showed the most stable mechanical properties, whereas those of IBT changed the most. Fractal analysis revealed that IBT showed significant differences from the other two materials, whereas TA showed that only Dental LT Clear did not show changes in its texture after the compression test. Before the compression, however, BioMed Amber differed the most when bone index was taken into account.

An Experimental Anodized and Low-Pressure Oxygen Plasma-Treated Titanium Dental Implant Surface-Preliminary Report.

Chemical composition and physical parameters of the implant surface, such as roughness, regulate the cellular response leading to implant bone osseointegration. Possible implant surface modifications include anodization or the plasma electrolytic oxidation (PEO) treatment process that produces a thick and dense oxide coating superior to normal anodic oxidation. Experimental modifications with Plasma Electrolytic Oxidation (PEO) titanium and titanium alloy Ti6Al4V plates and PEO additionally treated with low-pressure oxygen plasma (PEO-S) were used in this study to evaluate their physical and chemical properties. Cytotoxicity of experimental titanium samples as well as cell adhesion to their surface were assessed using normal human dermal fibroblasts (NHDF) or L929 cell line. Moreover, the surface roughness, fractal dimension analysis, and texture analysis were calculated. Samples after surface treatment have substantially improved properties compared to the reference SLA (sandblasted and acid-etched) surface. The surface roughness (Sa) was 0.59-2.38 µm, and none of the tested surfaces had cytotoxic effect on NHDF and L929 cell lines. A greater cell growth of NHDF was observed on the tested PEO and PEO-S samples compared to reference SLA sample titanium.

Surface Evaluation of Aligners after Immersion in Coca-Cola and Orange Juice.

Orthodontic removable appliances made of transparent thermoplastic materials-aligners-are becoming increasingly popular in contemporary orthodontic practice. It is important for the clinician to fully understand the mechanical properties and behavior of the appliance used. Because of that, the aim of our study was to investigate the changes in aligner surface after immersion in Coca-Cola and orange juice. For surface evaluation, fractal analysis, texture analysis, and wetting angle measurement were performed. Statistically significant changes were found between some of the groups in the fractal dimension analysis. In texture analysis, all but one intergroup comparison showed statistically significant differences. For wetting angle assessment, statistically significant differences were found. These were, however, more numerous when assessing glycol droplets, rather than water droplets. Fractal dimension analysis confirmed a correlation between the intensity of changes in the aligner surface with immersion time in the liquids assessed. Texture analysis showed a high sensitivity to the changes in aligner surface. It failed, however, to reveal changes relative to immersion time. Wetting angle analysis revealed aligner surface degradation for Coca-Cola. It did not, however, prove the dependence of the intensity of this degradation as a function of time. Both Coca-Cola and orange juice can cause aligner surface degradation.

Fractal Dimension Analysis of Melanocytic Nevi and Melanomas in Normal and Polarized Light-A Preliminary Report.

Clinical diagnosis of pigmented lesions can be a challenge in everyday practice. Benign and dysplastic nevi and melanomas may have similar clinical presentations, but completely different prognoses. Fractal dimensions of shape and texture can describe the complexity of the pigmented lesion structure. This study aims to apply fractal dimension analysis to differentiate melanomas, dysplastic nevi, and benign nevi in polarized and non-polarized light. A total of 87 Eighty-four patients with 97 lesions were included in this study. All examined lesions were photographed under polarized and non-polarized light, surgically removed, and examined by a histopathologist to establish the correct diagnosis. The obtained images were then processed and analyzed. Area, perimeter, and fractal dimensions of shape and texture were calculated for all the lesions under polarized and non-polarized light. The fractal dimension of shape in polarized light enables differentiating melanomas, dysplastic nevi, and benign nevi. It also makes it possible to distinguish melanomas from benign and dysplastic nevi under non-polarized light. The fractal dimension of texture allows distinguishing melanomas from benign and dysplastic nevi under polarized light. All examined parameters of shape and texture can be used for developing an automatic computer-aided diagnosis system. Polarized light is superior to non-polarized light for imaging texture details.

Texture Analysis in Diagnosing Skin Pigmented Lesions in Normal and Polarized Light-A Preliminary Report.

The differential diagnosis of benign nevi (BN), dysplastic nevi (DN), and melanomas (MM) represents a considerable clinical problem. These lesions are similar in clinical examination but have different prognoses and therapeutic management techniques. A texture analysis (TA) is a mathematical and statistical analysis of pixel patterns of a digital image. This study aims to demonstrate the relationship between the TA of digital images of pigmented lesions under polarized and non-polarized light and their histopathological diagnosis. Ninety pigmented lesions of 76 patients were included in this study. We obtained 166 regions of interest (ROI) images for MM, 166 for DN, and 166 for BN. The pictures were taken under polarized and non-polarized light. Selected image texture features (entropy and difference entropy and long-run emphasis) of ROIs were calculated. Those three equations were used to construct the texture index (TI) and bone index (BI). All of the presented features distinguish melanomas, benign and dysplastic lesions under polarized light very well. In non-polarized images, only the long-run emphasis moment and both indices effectively differentiated nevi from melanomas. TA is an objective method of assessing pigmented lesions and can be used in automatic diagnostic systems.

Fractal Dimension and Texture Analysis in the Assessment of Experimental Laser-Induced Periodic Surface Structures (LIPSS) Dental Implant Surface-In Vitro Study Preliminary Report.

Laser-induced periodic surface structures (LIPSS) are the sub-wavelength periodic nanostructures generated by the femtosecond laser. Implant topography and its nanostructural changes can be important for biomedical applications. In order to compare the surface topography of different implants, appropriate mathematical and physical descriptive methods should be provided. The aim of the study was to evaluate the experimental LIPSS-based-Low Spatial Frequency LIPSS (LSFL) dental implant surfaces. Novel methods of surface analysis, such as Fractal Dimension Analysis and Texture Analysis, were compared to the standard surface roughness evaluation. Secondary, cell viability, and attachment tests were applied in order to evaluate the biological properties of the new titanium surface and to compare their correlation with the physical properties of the new surfaces. A Normal Human Dermal Fibroblast (NHDF) cytotoxicity test did not show an impact on the vitality of the cells. Our study has shown that the laser LIPSS implant surface modifications significantly improved the cell adhesion to the tested surfaces. We observed a strong correlation of adhesion and the growth of cells on the tested surface, with an increase in implant surface roughness with the best results for the moderately rough (2 µm) surfaces. Texture and fractal dimension analyses are promising methods to evaluate dental implants with complex geometry.

Surface Evaluation of Orthodontic Brackets Using Texture and Fractal Dimension Analysis.

The surface topography of orthodontic brackets can have a significant impact on both the effectiveness of the therapy and the behavior of these elements in the oral cavity environment. In this situation, striving to obtain the most uniform, smooth surface in a repeatable manner for each manufactured element should be a sine qua non condition for each supplier of orthodontic brackets. Therefore, it is necessary to analyze the surfaces of orthodontic brackets using different methods. One of them-that is relatively simple and repeatable-is the analysis of the fractal dimension and the analysis of the textures of the optical images on the surface. In the presented study, fractal dimension analysis and texture analysis were performed by selecting four brackets from three different manufacturers (Mini Sprint, Sprint, Nu-Edge, Orthos SS). The area of each bracket slot was analyzed at six predefined points. The smoothest and most uniform and reproducible surface structure was shown by the Mini Sprint bracket. On the other hand, Sprint brackets showed the least homogeneous and least repeatable surface structure.

Application of Texture and Fractal Dimension Analysis to Evaluate Subgingival Cement Surfaces in Terms of Biocompatibility.

Biocompatibility is defined as "the ability of a biomaterial, prosthesis, or medical device to perform with an appropriate host response in a specific application". Biocompatibility is especially important for restorative dentists as they use materials that remain in close contact with living tissues for a long time. The research material involves six types of cement used frequently in the subgingival region: Ketac Fil Plus (3M ESPE, Germany), Riva Self Cure (SDI, Australia) (Glass Ionomer Cements), Breeze (Pentron Clinical, USA) (Resin-based Cement), Adhesor Carbofine (Pentron, Czech Republic), Harvard Polycarboxylat Cement (Harvard Dental, Great Britain) (Zinc polycarboxylate types of cement) and Agatos S (Chema-Elektromet, Poland) (Zinc Phosphate Cement). Texture and fractal dimension analysis was applied. An evaluation of cytotoxicity and cell adhesion was carried out. The fractal dimension of Breeze (Pentron Clinical, USA) differed in each of the tested types of cement. Adhesor Carbofine (Pentron, Czech Republic) cytotoxicity was rated 4 on a 0-4 scale. The Ketac Fil Plus (3M ESPE, Germany) and Riva Self Cure (SDI, Australia) cements showed the most favorable conditions for the adhesion of fibroblasts, despite statistically significant differences in the fractal dimension of their surfaces.

Fractal Dimension and Texture Analysis of Lesion Autofluorescence in the Evaluation of Oral Lichen Planus Treatment Effectiveness.

BACKGROUND: Oral Lichen planus (OLP) is a chronic inflammatory disease. Topical steroids are used as the treatment of choice. The alternative is photodynamic therapy (PDT). The study aimed to fabricate optimal biodegradable matrices for methylene blue or triamcinolone acetonide because of a lack of currently commercially available carriers that could adhere to the mucous. METHODS: The study was designed as a 12-week single-blind prospective randomized clinical trial with 30 patients, full contralateral split-mouth design. Matrices for steroid and photosensitizer and laser device were fabricated. Fractal and texture analysis of photographs, taken in 405, 450, 405 + 450 nm wavelength, of lesions was performed to increase the objectivity of the assessment of treatment. RESULTS: We achieved two total responses for treatment in case of steroid therapy and one in the case of PDT. Partial response was noted in 17 lesions treated using local steroid therapy and 21 in the case of PDT. No statistically significant differences were found between the effectiveness of both used methods. Statistically significant differences in fractal dimension before and after treatment were observed only in the analysis of photographs taken in 405 + 450 nm wavelength. CONCLUSIONS: Photodynamic therapy and topical steroid therapy are effective methods for treating OLP. Using a carrier offers the possibility of a more predictable and effective method of drug delivery into the mucous membrane. Autofluorescence enables the detection of lesions especially at the early stage of their development.

Printable and Machinable Dental Restorative Composites for CAD/CAM Application-Comparison of Mechanical Properties, Fractographic, Texture and Fractal Dimension Analysis.

Thanks to the continuous development of light-curing resin composites it is now possible to print permanent single-tooth restorations. The purpose of this study was to compare resin composites for milling -Gandio Blocks (GR), Brilliant Crios (CR) and Enamic (EN) with resin composite for 3D printing-Varseo Smile Crown plus (VSC). Three-point bending was used to measure flexural strength (σf) and flexural modulus (Ef). The microhardness was measured using a Vickers method, while fractographic, microstructural, texture and fractal dimension (FD) analyses were performed using SEM, optical microscope and picture analysis methods. The values of σf ranged from 118.96 (±2.81) MPa for EN to 186.02 (±10.49) MPa for GR, and the values of Ef ranged from 4.37 (±0.8) GPa for VSC to 28.55 (±0.34) GPa for EN. HV01 ranged from 25.8 (±0.7) for VSC to 273.42 (±27.11) for EN. The filler content ranged from 19-24 vol. % for VSC to 70-80 vol. % for GR and EN. The observed fractures are typical for brittle materials. The correlation between FD of materials microstructure and Ef was observed. σf of the printed resin depends on layers orientation and is significantly lower than σf of GR and CR. Ef of the printed material is significantly lower than Ef of blocks for milling.

Application of Fractal Dimension and Texture Analysis to Evaluate the Effectiveness of Treatment of a Venous Lake in the Oral Mucosa Using a 980 nm Diode Laser-A Preliminary Study.

Venous lake (VL) is a common lesion resulting from the enlargement of thin-walled veins surrounded by a thick wall of fibrous tissue. Photocoagulation is becoming one of the basic methods for treating small vascular lesions. The aim of this study was an application of texture analysis (TA) and fractal dimension analysis (FDA) to evaluate VL treatment. Twenty-three VLs were included in the study. We used a 980 nm diode laser, 6 W, 100 ms pulse mode with a 50% duty cycle. The total dose of energy was in a range from 80 J to 600 J. We used the difference of intensity algorithm for FDA and microcontrast and a co-occurrence matrix for TA. A complete therapeutic effect was achieved in 83%, and in 9%, scar formation was observed after three months. No healing was observed in 4%, and there was partial healing in 4%. No differences in FD were observed between the lesions after three months and the healthy mucosa. The fractal dimension and microcontrast of a vascular lesion are mutually coupled. FDA and TA is a useful and objective method of assessing treatment effects for venous lakes. The non-contact mode of the 980 nm diode laser is an effective and safe method for treating a VL.

A Comparison of Clinical Efficiency of Photodynamic Therapy and Topical Corticosteroid in Treatment of Oral Lichen Planus: A Split-Mouth Randomised Controlled Study.

BACKGROUND: The aim of the study was to compare the effectiveness of photodynamic therapy (PDT) to steroid therapy in the treatment of oral lichen planus (OLP). Due to the lack of commercially available drug carriers, innovative proprietary solutions were used for both the photosensitiser and the steroid carrier-in the first case to shorten and in the second to extend the contact of the active substance with the mucosa. METHODS: A prospective, randomised, single-blind, 12-week full contralateral split-mouth clinical trial of 30 patients with bilateral oral lichen planus was conducted. The prepared matrices were incorporated with active substances methylene blue 5% and 0,05% triamcinolone. The size of lesions, Thongprasom, ABISIS, and VAS scale were evaluated. RESULTS: Relatively high rates of complete remission of lichen were demonstrated: immediately after treatment, 33.3% with PDT and 22.2% with triamcinolone (TA), and after 3 months, 54.2% with PDT and 62.9% with TA. After 3 months of treatment, a reduction in the area of evaluated lesions of 52.7% for PDT and 41.7% for TA was achieved. CONCLUSION: In situations of topical or general contraindications to oral corticosteroids, resistance to them, or the need for repeated treatment in a short period of time, PDT appears to be a very promising treatment option.

Surface Evaluation of Orthodontic Wires Using Texture and Fractal Dimension Analysis.

Mechanical properties of orthodontic wires can have a very significant impact both on the resistance of the entire appliance to the oral cavity conditions and directly on the effectiveness of the therapy. Striving to achieve repeatability of mechanical characteristics of orthodontic wires of a given type should be an obligatory condition in their production. To achieve it, these components should be thoroughly analyzed using various mechanical tests. Twenty-four steel and nickel-titanium orthodontic wires from four different manufacturers were examined. Each wire was subjected to fractal dimension analysis and texture analysis. The two sides of each wire were compared against each other, as well as in terms of variation in the surface area for each wire type made by different manufacturers. Most wires showed significant variation in fractal dimension and texture, both when comparing two sides of the same wire and between individual wires of a given type made by a single manufacturer. When conducting research and clinically using orthodontic wires made of Ni-Ti alloys and stainless steel, it should be assumed that the surface of orthodontic wires shows a significant degree of variation, and wires of the same type from the same manufacturer may differ significantly in this respect.

Assessment of Human Gingival Fibroblast Proliferation after Laser Stimulation In Vitro Using Different Laser Types and Wavelengths (1064, 980, 635, 450, and 405 nm)-Preliminary Report.

PURPOSE: to assess the effect of photobiomodulation (PBM) on human gingival fibroblast proliferation. METHODS: The study was conducted using the primary cell cultures of human fibroblasts collected from systemically healthy donors. Three different laser types, Nd:YAG (1064 nm), infrared diode laser (980 nm), and prototype led laser emitting 405, 450, and 635 nm were used to irradiate the fibroblasts. Due to the patented structure of that laser, it was possible to irradiate fibroblasts with a beam combining two or three wavelengths. The energy density was 3 J/cm2, 25 J/cm2, 64 J/cm2. The viability and proliferation of cells were determined using the (Thiazolyl Blue Tetrazolium Blue) (MTT) test conducted 24, 48, and 72 h after laser irradiation. RESULTS: The highest percentage of mitochondrial activity (MA = 122.1%) was observed in the group irradiated with the 635 nm laser, with an energy density of 64 J/cm2 after 48 h. The lowest percentage of MA (94.0%) was observed in the group simultaneously irradiated with three wavelengths (405 + 450 + 635 nm). The use of the 405 nm laser at 25 J/cm2 gave similar results to the 635 nm laser. CONCLUSIONS: The application of the 635 nm and 405 nm irradiation caused a statistically significant increase in the proliferation of gingival fibroblasts.

Assessment of Effects of Laser Light Combining Three Wavelengths (450, 520 and 640 nm) on Temperature Increase and Depth of Tissue Lesions in an Ex Vivo Study.

BACKGROUND: Lasers are widely used in medicine in soft and hard tissue surgeries and biostimulation. Studies found in literature typically compare the effects of single-wavelength lasers on tissues or cell cultures. In our study, we used a diode laser capable of emitting three components of visible light (640 nm, red; 520 nm, green; 450 nm, blue) and combining them in a single beam. The aim of the study was to assess the effects of laser radiation in the visible spectrum on tissue in vitro, depending on the wavelength and pulse width. METHODS: All irradiations were performed using the same output power (1.5 W). We used various duty cycles: 10, 50, 80 and 100% with 100 Hz frequency. Maximum superficial temperature, rate of temperature increase and lesion depth were investigated. RESULTS: Maximum superficial temperature was observed for 450 + 520 nm irradiation (100% duty cycle). The highest rate of increase of temperature was noted for 450 + 520 nm (100% duty cycle). Maximum lesion depth was observed in case of three-wavelength irradiation (450 + 520 + 640 nm) for 100, 80 and 50% duty cycles. CONCLUSIONS: The synergistic effect of two-wavelength (450 + 520 nm) irradiation was observed in case of maximum temperature measurement. The deepest depth of lesion was noted after three-wavelength irradiation (450 + 520 + 640 nm).

Theoretical Background to Automated Diagnosing of Oral Leukoplakia: A Preliminary Report.

Oral leukoplakia represents the most common oral potentially malignant disorder, so early diagnosis of leukoplakia is important. The aim of this study is to propose an effective texture analysis algorithm for oral leukoplakia diagnosis. Thirty-five patients affected by leukoplakia were included in this study. Intraoral photography of normal oral mucosa and leukoplakia were taken and processed for texture analysis. Two features of texture, run length matrix and co-occurrence matrix, were analyzed. Difference was checked by ANOVA. Factor analysis and classification by the artificial neural network were performed. Results revealed easy possible differentiation leukoplakia from normal mucosa (p < 0.05). Neural network discrimination shows full leukoplakia recognition (sensitivity 100%) and specificity 97%. This objective analysis in the neural network revealed that involving 3 textural features into optical analysis of the oral mucosa leads to proper diagnosis of leukoplakia. Application of texture analysis for leukoplakia is a promising diagnostic method.

Application of Texture and Fractal Dimension Analysis to Estimate Effectiveness of Oral Leukoplakia Treatment Using an Er:YAG Laser-A Prospective Study.

BACKGROUND: Oral leukoplakia (OL) is a potential neoplasmic lesion. The aim of this study was to apply texture analysis (TA) and fractal dimension analysis (FDA) to estimate the effectiveness of OL treatment using an Er:YAG laser. METHODS: Eighteen patients with 32 lesions were treated. Laser procedures were conducted using the LiteTouch™ Er:YAG Dental Laser. The diameter of the operational tip was 1.3 mm, the power was 50 mJ, the frequency was 50 Hz, and the wavelength was 2940 nm. TA was based on long and short-run emphasis inverse moments, difference entropy, inverse difference moment, and wavelet decomposition for two-dimensional photography. FDA was measured using the box-counting method. RESULTS: Total response was achieved in 50% of lesions, partial response was observed in 47%, and 3% of lesions did not respond to treatment. Recurrence occurred in 34% of lesions. TA features indicated pathological images depicting leukoplakia and complete reconstruction of the correct mucosal image after laser ablation. The discrete wavelet transformation feature detects much larger structures than the properties derived from the run-length matrix and co-occurrence matrix. CONCLUSIONS: The Er:YAG laser is an effective treatment method in cases of oral leukoplakia. Leukoplakia treatment by Er:YAG laser is an effective modality, as revealed by the oral mucosa microstructure. TA and FDA are promising methods to estimate the effectiveness of OL treatment.

Antimicrobial Efficacy of Different Decontamination Methods as Tested on Dental Implants with Various Types of Surfaces.

BACKGROUND Peri-implantitis is an inflammatory reaction affecting both hard and soft tissues surrounding dental implants. This pathological condition is caused by a polymicrobial aggressive biofilm that colonizes the implant and abutment surface at the peri-implant crevice level. The present in vitro study evaluated different methods of implant surface decontamination and assessed whether the type of the implant surface influences the results. MATERIAL AND METHODS The study was conducted in an in vitro model of peri-implantitis using 30 implants. The implants were divided into 3 equal groups based on the surface characteristics: machined-surface, sand-blasted and acid-etched, and HA-coated. Implants were coated with E. coli biofilm. After an incubation period, they were decontaminated with 4 different methods: sonic scaler application, sonic scaler application with the chemical agent Perisolv® combination, Er: YAG laser treatment, and PDT therapy with methylene blue as a photosensitizer. RESULTS The highest level of decontamination was achieved for machined-surface implants and for the combined chemical-mechanical and Er: YAG laser treatment. CONCLUSIONS The results of our study suggest that the method of implant decontamination should be customized to the type of implant surface.