Dentistry

Abstract

Decontamination of SAE Surface: An In Vitro Study

Frederic Parahy, Lluis S Soler, Paul Tramini and Angel E Gomez

Aim: To investigate the impact of different treatments used to detoxify dental implants on the titanium oxide layer (TiO2) roughness and chemical composition and how these changes may impact in the re-osseointegration of an implant.

Materials and methods: 25 titanium discs (Ti6Al4V) coated with a SAE surface treatment (Sandblasting and Acidetching) were subjected to a series of mechanical and chemical treatments simulating surface decontamination of dental implant affected by peri-implantitis. The morphology and roughness (mainly Sa, Sq, Sku, Ssk, Sdr%) of the surface layer was investigated with scanning electron microscope (SEM) and confocal interferometer respectively, while the chemical composition was analyzed with X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). All samples were analyzed before and after treatment. Chemical and mechanical treatments employed for detoxification of the implant surface included tetracycline hydrochloride (TC), phototherapy in conjunction with toluidine blue gel (L), air-powder (OH) and ultrasonic device (US). 5 discs were used for each treatment group.

Results: US treatment delaminates the titanium oxide layer (TiO2), decreasing roughness, principally by crashing the highest peaks of the surface layer, leaving the TiO2 layer a roughness similar to a turned, machined surface. TC treatment is not completely removed by the physiologic serum irrigation and remains in the deep of the valleys of the surface. The result of this deposition is translated with a decrease of the roughness parameters in general. Bicarbonate jet polishing air powder OH leaves a similar roughness but also leaves rests of powder on the surface. Phototherapy in conjunction with toluidine blue enhances the surface exposure by modifying the texture complexity and thus increases the roughness.

Conclusion: In order to achieve the re-osseointegration of an implant affected by peri-implantitis, the decontamination treatment should leave at least a similar surface as the original SAE surface treatment. In terms of roughness parameters, this study shows that the phototherapy treatment not only has similar parameters of roughness comparing to the original surface, but also enhances the texture complexity of the surface that may improve the chances for re-osseointegration.