A new implant-abutment connection for bacterial microleakage prevention: an in vitro study

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.

Evaluation of different materials used for sealing of implant abutment access channel and the peri-implant sulcus microbiota: A 6-month, randomized controlled trial

OBJECTIVE

Peri-implantitis has been attributed to a myriad of factors, including microleakage at the abutment-implant interface. Implant abutment access channel sealing materials (IACSM) are readily used in implant dentistry, with little evidence on their effect on microleakage. This study aims to evaluate the effect of IACSM on the microbial composition in the implant access channel and the peri-implant sulcus.

METHODS

A total of n = 8 patients (64 implants) were included in this single-blinded, randomized controlled trial, whereas four different materials (cotton, polytetrafluoroethylene [PTFE], synthetic foam, or polyvinyl siloxane [PVS]) were randomly placed as an IACSM. Following 6 months, microbial analysis was completed on the IACSM and samples from the peri-implant sulci via PCR and high-throughput sequencing. Bacterial samples on the IACSM and in the peri-implant sulci were classified according to Socransky's microbial complexes.

RESULTS

There was a preponderance of early colonizing bacteria within the IACSM, while the peri-implant sulci were dominated by Orange complex bacteria. The proportion of Red and Orange complex members on the IACSM was significantly less than in the peri-implant sulci. The proportion of Green, Yellow, and Blue complex members found on the IACSM was significantly greater than in the peri-implant sulci. Atopobium, a diverse species not included in the microbial complexes, was frequently detected in the peri-implant sulcus samples.

CONCLUSIONS

No detectable effects of IACSM on the microbial community in the peri-implant sulcus or on the IACSM were identified. Variation of bacterial species was most dependent on the individual patient. No significant differences were found in the periodontal parameters between the different treatment groups.

Selected Spectroscopic Techniques for Surface Analysis of Dental Materials: A Narrative Review

The presented work focuses on the application of spectroscopic methods, such as Infrared Spectroscopy (IR), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR), Raman spectroscopy, Ultraviolet and Visible Spectroscopy (UV-Vis), X-ray spectroscopy, and Mass Spectrometry (MS), which are widely employed in the investigation of the surface properties of dental materials. Examples of the research of materials used as tooth fillings, surface preparation in dental prosthetics, cavity preparation methods and fractographic studies of dental implants are also presented. The cited studies show that the above techniques can be valuable tools as they are expanding the research capabilities of materials used in dentistry.