title: The influence of surface-free energy on supra- and subgingival plaque microbiology. An in vivo study on implants.
abstract: The influence of surface free energy on supra- and subgingival plaque microbiology was examined in 9 patients with functional fixed prostheses supported by endosseous titanium implants. Two abutments (trans-mucosal part of the 2 stage implant) were replaced by either a new titanium abutment or a fluor-ethylene-propylene (FEP) coated abutment per subject. After 3 months of habitual oral hygiene, plaque samples were taken. Supragingival plaque was examined by means of differential phase-contrast microscopy, whereas for the subgingivial plaque additional analyses (DNA probes analysis, culturing) were performed. The subgingival samples were taken by paper-points and by scraping of the subgingival abutment surface. Differential phase-contrast microscopy showed a significant difference in plaque composition, especially when supragingival plaque was considered (P = 0.05). FEP coated abutments frequently harbored more coccoid microorganisms, whereas spirochetes or motile organisms were only detected around titanium abutments. Subgingivally, the number of colony forming units (CFU) in paper-points was comparable for both types of abutments. If the to-the-abutment-adhering plaque was considered, the number of CFU was 5 times higher on the titanium abutments than on the FEP coated abutments. However, this difference did not reach a statistical level of significance (P = 0.38). The DNA probe analysis of the subgingival plaque collected with paper-points showed a slightly higher frequency and concentration of perio-pathogens around the titanium abutments. However, the inter-substratum differences were smaller than the inter-subject differences. The latter seemed to be related to patient's dental status.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
authors.affiliation: Catholic University of Leuven, School of Dentistry, Department of Periodontology, Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Quirynen
authors.forename: H C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Van der Mei
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Bollen
authors.forename: L H
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Van den Bossche
authors.forename: G I
authors.initials: GI
authors.lastname: Doornbusch
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: van Steenberghe
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Busscher
mesh_terms: D001422:Bacterial Adhesion; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D015342:DNA Probes; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D000044:Dental Abutments; D015921:Dental Implants; D003773:Dental Plaque / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D013499:Surface Properties; D014025:Titanium
chemical_list: D015342:DNA Probes; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D015921:Dental Implants; D014025:Titanium