In Vitro Microbiological Analysis of Bacterial Seal in Hybrid Zirconia Abutment Tapered Connection

The impact of Morse taper implant design on microleakage at implant-healing abutment interface

The microbial leakage at the implant-abutment interface (IAI) is one cause of peri-implant infection that puts long-term implant stability at risk. The present study compared two types of Morse taper implants in terms of sealing performance at the implanthealing abutment interface. Three implant systems, one of which exhibited a partial face-contact design (TSO) and the other two a line-contact design (TSM and BLT), were analyzed in vitro using two quantitative implant leakage measuring techniques: air-injection pressure measurement test and microbial examination. An in-house-developed device was used to determine implant leakage by recording the initial drop in pressure while injecting air through the implant. The microbial examination measured the absorbances of culture mediums in which the inoculated implants were contained. Significant difference was found between the partial face- and line-contact groups (p<0.001). Both tests revealed that partial face-contact implants are more prone to leakage than line-contact implants.

In vitro analysis of prosthetic abutment and angulable frictional implant interface adaptation: Mechanical and microbiological study

The aim of this study was to evaluate, in vitro, the microbiological sealing at the implant and different angles frictional prosthetic abutment interface, submitted or not to mechanical cycling, as well as the deactivation force and evaluation of the implant-abutment interface by scanning electron microscopy. For this study, the sealing capacity of eighty sets of abutments/implants of each angle, with and without mechanical cycling, with internal conical connection (locking tapper) (4.3 mm × 9.0 mm) constituted in Titanium alloy (Ti6Al4V), and stainless steel angled prosthetic abutment was evaluated (18Cr14Ni2.5Mo) according to ASTM F138-13a (Arcsys, FGM, Joinville, Brazil), 6 mm high and 4.2 mm in diameter at the coronary portion, and 3.5 mm high transmucosal, in 4 different angles (0, 5, 10 and 20°). After in vitro tests, 100% biological sealing was observed at the implant / prosthetic abutment interface within cycled and non-cycled conditions, for the straight, 5, 10 and 20° inclination groups. There was no statistically significant difference in the removal force of the prosthetic abutments at different angles, under non-cycled conditions; however, under mechanical loading, the deactivation force was significantly higher for straight prosthetic abutments than with 10 and 20° of angulation. Surface analysis revealed good adaptation between implants and abutments, and the presence of wear areas, independently of mechanical loading. It is concluded that the analysis of implant and prosthetic abutment interface revealed good adaptation between the parts, for all analyzed samples.