Attachment of oral gram-negative anaerobic rods to a smooth titanium surface: an electron microscopy study.
OBJECTIVE
Attachment of bacteria to titanium may differ not only between bacterial species but also between strains within a species. The aim of the present in vitro study was to examine differences in bacterial attachment using 4 gram-negative anaerobic species of bacteria that are considered potential periodontal pathogens.


METHODS
The attachment of clinical and laboratory strains (n = 23) representing 2 Fusobacterium nucleatum subspecies, Porphyromonas gingivalis, and Prevotella intermedia to smooth, commercially pure titanium was examined using scanning electron microscopy.


RESULTS
All bacterial strains were attached to the smooth titanium surface by their outer membrane. F nucleatum cells were poorly attached to the titanium, unlike P gingivalis or P intermedia cells, but only slight differences were observed in the quantity of attached cells between the strains within each bacterial group.


CONCLUSIONS
In favorable conditions, some anaerobes can attach directly to an inert titanium surface. Microbial adhesion and subsequent colonization on the dental implant surface can lead to infection of the peri-implant tissue.


CONCLUSIONS
The results indicated that the avidity of bacterial attachment to a smooth titanium surface varies between species of oral gram-negative anaerobes but not between strains.
Kuula
Heidi
H
Institute of Dentistry, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland. heidi.kuula@helsinki.fi
Könönen
Eija
E
Lounatmaa
Kari
K
Konttinen
Yrjö T
YT
Könönen
Mauno
M
D001422:Bacterial Adhesion; D002462:Cell Membrane; D016967:Fusobacterium nucleatum / Q000502:physiology; D016965:Gram-Negative Anaerobic Straight, Curved, and Helical Rods / Q000502:physiology*; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D016966:Porphyromonas gingivalis / Q000502:physiology; D018713:Prevotella intermedia / Q000502:physiology; D013045:Species Specificity; D013499:Surface Properties; D014025:Titanium
D014025:Titanium