• Submission Form (PDF)
• Author Guidelines (PDF)
• Submit

• Accepted Manuscripts

Back

Volume 23 , Issue 2
March/April 2008
Pages 327–334

Supra- and Subgingival Biofilm Formation on Implant Abutments with Different Surface Characteristics

Cornelius Elter/Wieland Heuer, Dr/Anton Demling, Dr/Matthias Hannig, Prof Dr/Torsten Heidenblut, Dr-Ing/Friedrich-Wilhelm Bach, Prof Dr/Meike Stiesch-Scholz, Prof Dr

PMID: 18548931

Purpose: The aim of the present study was to establish a noninvasive method for quantitative analysis of supra- and subgingival biofilm formation on dental implants considering different surface modifications. Materials and Methods: Patients of both sexes were included. They had to be in generally good health, partially edentulous, and the recipient of at least 1 screw-type implant with an abutment possessing supra- and subgingival areas. Healing abutments were inserted for 14 days. The abutment surfaces were divided into quadrants that were sandblasted, ground, acid-etched, and untreated (with the latter surface as a control). Biofilm formation on the healing abutments was analyzed using scanning electron microscopy, including secondary-electron and Rutherford backscattering-detection methods. Calculation of biofilm-covered surfaces was performed depending on grey-values, considering supra- and subgingival areas. After calculating absolute and relative biofilm-covered surfaces depending on localization, the influence of surface modification on biofilm formation was analyzed. Results: Fifteen healing abutments were inserted in 11 patients. In all surface properties plaque adhesion in supragingival areas was significantly higher (17.3% ± 23.1%) than in subgingival areas (0.8% ± 1.0%). Biofilm accumulation in supragingival areas was significantly increasing by higher surface roughness, whereas this influence was not detected in subgingival areas. Conclusion: The described method is valuable for investigation of supra- and subgingival biofilm adhesion on surface-modified implant abutments. There was a significant influence of surface localization (supra- and subgingival) as well as surface modification on biofilm formation. (Case Control Study) Int J Oral Maxillofac Implants 2008;23:327–334

Key words: abutment, biofilm, implant, scanning electron microscopy, surface roughness

Full Text PDF File | Order Article

 

 

Adobe Acrobat Reader is required to view PDF files. This is a free program available from the Adobe web site.
Follow the download directions on the Adobe web site to get your copy of Adobe Acrobat Reader.