Retention of oral microorganisms on cobalt-chromium alloy and dental acrylic resin with different surface finishes.
BACKGROUND
The effect of surface finish of dental materials on the subsequent contamination by microorganisms.


OBJECTIVE
This study compared the retention of Streptococcus oralis, Actinomyces viscosus, and Candida albicans on polished, sandblasted (fine and coarse) and electrobrightened cobalt-chromium alloy and dental acrylic resin to assess in vitro the effect of such techniques on prosthesis contamination.


METHODS
Standardized cell suspensions were incubated with test materials for 1 hour at 37 degrees C, after which retained cells were counted by using image analysis (percentage area of a microscopic field covered by cells).


RESULTS
Retention of bacterial cells was substantial (S oralis 12% to 20% and A viscosus 9% to 16%) irrespective of surface finish. Maximal retention was observed on cobalt-chromium alloy that had undergone fine sandblasting and electrobrightening (P < .01). For C albicans, an increase in surface roughness (0.15 to 3.53 microns) resulted in an increase in retention (3% to 9%).


CONCLUSIONS
Cell size and the type of roughening significantly affected the retention of microorganisms on surfaces. Electrobrightening of cobalt-chromium alloy did not reduce the surface roughness or subsequent cell attachment.
Taylor
R
R
Manchester Metropolitan University, United Kingdom.
Maryan
C
C
Verran
J
J
D000180:Acrylic Resins / Q000737:chemistry*; D016924:Actinomyces viscosus; D002176:Candida albicans; D002858:Chromium Alloys / Q000737:chemistry*; D003775:Dental Polishing / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017266:Dental Prosthesis / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D009055:Mouth / Q000382:microbiology*; D019533:Streptococcus oralis; D013499:Surface Properties
D000180:Acrylic Resins; D002858:Chromium Alloys