Comparative study between Aloe Vera Extract Mouth Rinse and Chlorhexidine Mouth Rinse in Preventing Biofilm Growth on Titanium Dental Implants

The primary concern regarding peri-implant infections is the growth of biofilm on dental implant abutments. It is believed that using antimicrobial mouthwash may reduce biofilm development and subsequent infections. This study aimed to assess the anti-biofilm properties of Aloe vera extract (AVE) againstStreptococcus mutans biofilm cultivated on titanium dental implant discs. The experiment utilized medical-grade titanium dental implant discs measuring 15 mm in diameter. To determine the phytochemical profile of AVE, its constituents were analyzed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), identifying various bioactive compounds, including anthraquinones, flavonoids, and saponins, known for their antimicrobial effects.he study involved sampling Streptococcus mutans from a healing abutment on a freshly placed dental implant and culturing it on titanium discs in vitro. The titanium specimens were inoculated with bacteria and incubated at 37°C for 24 hours, after which they were treated with chlorhexidine gluconate (CHX) (n = 5) or AVE (n = 5). Antibacterial activity tests revealed that both AVE and CHX significantly inhibited bacterial growth compared to the negative control. The levels of lactate and turbidity were notably lower in both treatment groups than in the control (p < 0.05). In the antibiofilm testing, there was a statistically significant reduction in turbidity for biofilms in both treatment groups. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) images showed minimal bacterial adherence to the titanium discs in the treatment groups, while confluent and integrated biofilms were observed on the discs in the control groups. These results suggest that Aloe vera extract possesses significant antimicrobial and antibiofilm properties against Streptococcus mutans and could be clinically utilized as a natural mouthwash alternative.