In vivo effectiveness of silicone gel sheets as barriers at the inner microgap between a prosthetic abutment and an external-hexagon implant platform.
OBJECTIVE
Bacterial penetration and colonization of the microgap at the implant-abutment interface have been reported in several studies. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of placing a silicone membrane between the abutment and the implant platform in an attempt to seal the interface.


METHODS
A total of 15 external-hex implants were placed in 10 patients with clinically healthy peri-implant tissues, and all of the patients had ceramic prosthetic crowns. Samples were collected from the microgaps before, 30 days after, and 90 days after insertion of a silicone membrane. Bacterial DNA was extracted and submitted in triplicate to polymerase chain reaction using primers specific for four peri-implant pathogens: Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, Porphyromonas gingivalis, Prevotella intermedia, and Tannerella forsythia.


RESULTS
In the initial samples, a positivity of 52% was found, which was different from that found in samples collected after 30 days (32%) and 90 days (27%) after insertion of the membrane.


CONCLUSIONS
It was evident that the silicone membrane reduced, but did not prevent, penetration of these species into external-hex implants.
Angélica Castro
AC
Pimentel
Marcello Roberto
MR
Manzi
Saul Galileu
SG
Sartori
Maria
M
da Graça Naclério-Homem
Wilson Roberto
WR
Sendyk
D016976:Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D001438:Bacteroidaceae / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D003442:Crowns / Q000382:microbiology*; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis*; D059605:Dental Implant-Abutment Design; D015921:Dental Implants / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010895:Pit and Fissure Sealants; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D016966:Porphyromonas gingivalis / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D018713:Prevotella intermedia / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D020034:Silicone Gels / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D013997:Time Factors
D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D015921:Dental Implants; D010895:Pit and Fissure Sealants; D020034:Silicone Gels