The Result: PEEK (polyetheretherketone) and Ti (titanium) materials exhibited similar levels of fungal adhesion. PEEK initially limited in vitro polymicrobial adhesion for the first 48 hours of biofilm accumulation. Notably, when the PEEK was irradiated with the LiteTouch™ Er:YAG laser, decontamination proved more effective on PEEK surfaces, reducing microbial accumulation by approximately 11 times. In the in vivo study, PEEK material exhibited reduced levels of 6 bacterial species, including the putative pathogen Treponema denticola.

The Conclusion: The study found that while PEEK surfaces initially limited bacterial adhesion, this effect diminished over time. Therefore, the treatment with the LiteTouch™ Er:YAG laser significantly reduced the bacterial load on PEEK material, highlighting its effectiveness in maintaining a cleaner surface and reducing levels of periodontopathogens.

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