An in vitro investigation concerning the bacterial leakage at implants with internal hexagon and Morse taper implant-abutment connections.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate, in vitro, the leakage observed in internal hexagon and Morse taper implant-abutment connections.


METHODS
Ten specimens with internal hexagon and 10 with Cone Morse connection were used. The inner parts of 5 implants, per group, were inoculated with Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PS) suspension and 5 implants, per group, with Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans (AA). The penetration of bacterial suspension into the surrounding solution was determined by observation of turbidity of the broth.


RESULTS
In the internal hexagon implants, bacterial contamination was found in 2 of 5 implant-abutment assemblies seeded with the PS, and in the assemblies seeded with AA, the contamination was found in 3 samples, with a total of leaked assemblies in this group in 5 of 10. In the Cone Morse implants, bacterial contamination was found in 2 of 5 implant-abutment assemblies seeded with the PS, whereas in the assemblies seeded with AA, no contamination was found, with a total of leaked assemblies in 2 of 10.


CONCLUSIONS
The data support a not significantly higher permeability to bacterial leakage and a lower infiltration rate of screw-retained abutment connections when compared to Cone Morse taper internal connections.
Dental School, University of Chieti, Pescara, Italy.
Domenico
D
Tripodi
Giovanni
G
Vantaggiato
Antonio
A
Scarano
Vittoria
V
Perrotti
Adriano
A
Piattelli
Giovanna
G
Iezzi
Simonetta
S
DʼErcole
D016976:Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans / Q000302:isolation & purification; D058491:Bacterial Load; D001431:Bacteriological Techniques; D003470:Culture Media; D000044:Dental Abutments / Q000382:microbiology*; D059605:Dental Implant-Abutment Design; D015921:Dental Implants / Q000382:microbiology*; D003763:Dental Leakage / Q000382:microbiology*; D017267:Dental Prosthesis Design; D006090:Gram-Negative Bacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D008422:Materials Testing; D009391:Nephelometry and Turbidimetry; D011550:Pseudomonas aeruginosa / Q000302:isolation & purification; D013053:Spectrophotometry; D013499:Surface Properties
D003470:Culture Media; D015921:Dental Implants