Altered bacterial adhesion with changes in roughness of titanium surfaces after implant cleaning

Abstract

Although various instruments have been devised to treat peri-implantitis, none has become the technique of choice. Recently, a new implant cleaning bur was introduced. We compared the surface roughness and bacterial adhesion on implants after surface cleaning with various instruments. Two types of titanium disks - resorbable blasting media (RBM) and sandblasting with large grit and acid etching (SLA) - were used. Following treatments were administered: (1) no treatment; (2) tetracycline; (3) implant cleaning bur; (4) air polisher with glycine powder; and (5) copper alloy ultrasonic scaler tip. We measured the titanium surface roughness after cleaning. We also observed surface changes with scanning electron microscopy, and evaluated the bacterial adhesion related to changes in surface roughness. The surface roughness of RBM disks decreased significantly only in the third group. SLA disks in the third and fifth groups showed significantly decreased roughness. No significant difference in bacterial adhesion was found on treated RBM surfaces. The third and fifth groups also had significantly decreased bacterial adhesion on the SLA surfaces. The implant cleaning bur reduced the roughness of RBM and SLA titanium implants, and decreased the adhesion of bacteria on SLA surfaces, which may help prevent the recurrence of peri-implantitis.