The effect of pretreating resorbable blast media titanium discs with an ultrasonic scaler or toothbrush on the bacterial removal efficiency of brushing.
OBJECTIVE
This in vitro study was performed to assess the adherence of Porphyromonas gingivalis to a resorbable blast media (RBM) titanium surface pretreated with an ultrasonic scaler or toothbrush and to evaluate the effects of the treatment of the RBM titanium discs on the bacterial removal efficiency of brushing by crystal violet assay and scanning electron microscopy.


METHODS
RBM titanium discs were pretreated with one of several ultrasonic scaler tips or cleaned with a toothbrush. Then the titanium discs were incubated with P. gingivalis and the quantity of adherent bacteria was compared. The disc surfaces incubated with bacteria were brushed with a toothbrush with dentifrice. Bacteria remaining on the disc surfaces were quantified.


RESULTS
A change in morphology of the surface of the RBM titanium discs after different treatments was noted. There were no significant differences in the adherence of bacteria on the pretreated discs according to the treatment modality. Pretreatment with various instruments did not produce significant differences in the bacterial removal efficiency of brushing with dentifrice.


CONCLUSIONS
Within the limits of this study, various types of mechanical instrumentation were shown to cause mechanical changes on the RBM titanium surface but did not show a significant influence on the adherence of bacteria and removal efficiency of brushing.
Graduate School of Clinical Dental Science, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea.
Minchul
M
Koh
Department of Periodontics, Seoul St Mary's Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Jun-Beom
JB
Park
Department of Oral Microbiology and Immunology, Seoul National University School of Dentistry, Seoul, Korea.
Yun-Ji
YJ
Jang
Department of Periodontics, Seoul St Mary's Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Youngkyung
Y
Ko
Bacteria; Dental scaling; Scanning electron microscopy; Surface properties; Titanium; Toothbrushing