Microbiological Factors of Peri-Implantitis: Methodologies for Biofilm Analysis

Studies have identified a large number of potential pathogens associated with peri-implantitis using different detection methods. Microbiological detection methods in peri-implantitis can be divided into conventual methods and molecular methods. This chapter presents an overview of the most common microbiological methods used to study pathogens associated with peri-implantitis, including advantages and drawbacks of each method. The first section (Detection Methods) focuses on the most prevalent methods used to study the microbiota of peri-implantitis. Conventional methods provided the earliest evidence of morphotypes of microorganisms associated with peri-implantitis. Molecular methods, by detecting microorganisms based on their nucleic acids, enabled the microbiology of peri-implantitis more discernible since they eliminated the need for culture. Molecular methods can be further divided into close-ended and open-ended methods, also known as genomic or metagenomic methods. The development of close-ended molecular methods allows to identify more pathogens involved with peri-implantitis that could not be detected by conventional methods. Open-ended methods, which include metagenomics, involve the process of extraction and sequencing the complete set of microbiota genome in a defined environment (Microbiome). The second section (Functional Methods) covers the most common techniques that could be used to complement the detection methods to study the microbiome, including the microbiota and its associated environment.