Effect of titanium and zirconia dental implant abutments on a cultivable polymicrobial saliva community.
BACKGROUND
Peri-implantitis is considered the most important biological complication responsible for late implant failure. The physical chemical properties intrinsic to each material can affect the first step to biofilm development and is an important precursor to the adaptive behavior of pathogenic bacteria species.


OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this in vitro study was to evaluate the effect of 2 commercially available implant abutment materials on the adhesion phase and biofilm formation.


METHODS
Disks (8 mm in diameter, 2 mm thick) of machined pure titanium (Ti) and yttrium-stabilized zirconia (ZrO2) materials were used to mimic implant abutments. The physical chemical surface properties were investigated using different approaches. Initial adherent bacteria and biofilm formation were evaluated after 16 and 48 hours by incubating the disks in a rich medium containing representative saliva-derived oral microbial community. Unpaired t test, 2 tailed, was used to compare the groups.


RESULTS
Ti presented lower hydrophobicity and surface free energy values than the ZrO2, and 6.1-fold fewer bacteria adhered to the Ti. After 48 hours, detailed quantitative analysis showed that biofilm biomass and biofilm density were lower on the Ti disks than on ZrO2. The quantity of phylotypes on the Ti and ZrO2surfaces was relatively similar during the attachment and early biofilm formation periods.


CONCLUSIONS
Although no difference in the bacteria profile was observed between both materials independent of the time point, the highest level of colonization was on ZrO2.
Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Department of Dental Materials and Prosthodontics, School of Dentistry at Araraquara, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Araraquara, Brazil; and Research Fellow, School of Dentistry, University of California, Los Angeles, Calif. Electronic address: erica.fobusp@yahoo.com.br.
Erica D
ED
de Avila
Professor, Department of Dental Materials and Prosthodontics, School of Dentistry at Araraquara, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Araraquara, Brazil.
Carlos Eduardo
CE
Vergani
Professor, Department of Dental Materials and Prosthodontics, School of Dentistry at Araraquara, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Araraquara, Brazil.
Francisco A
FA
Mollo Junior
Professor, Department of Physical Chemistry, Institute of Chemistry, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Araraquara, Brazil.
Miguel Jafelicci
MJ
Junior
Professor, School of Dentistry, University of California, Los Angeles, Calif.
Wenyuan
W
Shi
Professor, School of Dentistry, University of California, Los Angeles, Calif.
Renate
R
Lux
D001422:Bacterial Adhesion; D018441:Biofilms; D000044:Dental Abutments; D059605:Dental Implant-Abutment Design; D015921:Dental Implants; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D012463:Saliva / Q000382:microbiology*; D014025:Titanium; D015040:Zirconium
D015921:Dental Implants; D015040:Zirconium; D014025:Titanium; C028541:zirconium oxide