Tooth loss during the lifetime of an individual is common. A strategy to treat partial or complete edentulous patients is the placement of dental implants. However, dental implants are subject to bacterial colonization and biofilm formation, which cause an infection named peri-implantitis. The existing long-term treatments for peri-implantitis are generally inefficient. Thus, an electrical circuit was produced with zirconia (Zr) samples using a hot-pressing technique to impregnate silver (Ag) through channels and holes to create a path by LASER texturing. The obtained specimens were characterized according to vitro cytotoxicity, to ensure ZrAg non-toxicity. Furthermore, samples were inoculated with Staphylococcus aureus using 6.5 mA of alternating current (AC). The current was delivered using a potentiostat and the influence on the bacterial concentration was assessed. Using AC, the specimens displayed no bacterial adhesion (Log 7 reduction). The in vitro results presented in this study suggest that this kind of treatment can be an alternative and promising strategy to treat and overcome bacterial adhesion around dental implants that can evolve to biofilm.

Dental materials are well-established, with stainless steel 316L (SS) still being a common choice for components such as pediatric crowns and abutments. However, SS has some drawbacks, particularly in terms of mechanical properties and, more importantly, aesthetics, due to its metallic gray color. In this sense, PEEK (polyetheretherketone) has emerged as a promising material for dental applications, combining good mechanical properties with improved aesthetic features. This study compared the cytocompatibility of PEEK TiO₂ composite and SS using human fetal osteoblasts (hFOB) and human gingival fibroblasts (HGF). Cytocompatibility was evaluated over 1–7 days through metabolic activity and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) assays. Additionally, bacterial adhesion was assessed using Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa in both monoculture and co-culture. The results showed that both materials were non-cytotoxic and supported cell growth. Notably, after 7 days of culture, PEEK TiO₂ surfaces promoted approximately 7% higher ALP activity than stainless steel, demonstrating a significantly enhanced osteogenic response (p < 0.01). Moreover, at day 7, PEEK TiO₂ promoted ~25% higher metabolic activity in HGF cells compared to SS. Regarding the bacterial adhesion, it was consistently low in PEEK TiO₂ for both S. aureus and P. aeruginosa, with a marked reduction (~50%) observed for P. aeruginosa under co-culture conditions. PEEK TiO₂ demonstrated enhanced biological performance and lower bacterial adhesion compared with SS, highlighting its potential as a biocompatible and aesthetically promising option for dental applications, including pediatric crowns.