The study titled Recubrimiento antibacteriano del pilar de un implante dental para la prevención de las patologías perimplantarias: estudio clínico controlado y aleatorizado (Antibacterial coating of a dental implant abutment for the prevention of peri-implant pathologies: a randomised controlled clinical study) has won the prize worth €10,000 for the best original and unpublished research project in the field of odontostomatology, at the first Scientific Awards of the Official Society of Dentists and Stomatologists of Catalonia. 

The main objective of this study was to prevent the occurrence of these diseases by using “citric acid around the abutment as an antibacterial coating capable of reducing bacterial load and mucosal inflammation”. “Peri-implant diseases occur aggressively and with a rapid progression in half of all patients with implants”, the authors explain. 

"Citric acid may be highly effective and a possible strategy to prevent diseases such as mucositis or peri-implantitis," explain the researchers. "This is an innovative, rigorous project that may have an important clinical impact for our patients.

The project was carried out by Dr Javier Vilarrasa, Dr Neus Carrió and Dr José Nart, from the Department of Periodontics at UIC Barcelona, as well as Dr Xavier Gil, from the Bioengineering Institute of Technology. "The awarding of this prize represents a personal and team achievement that allows us to partially fund the research project", they say.