Functionalization of titanium dental prostheses surface with antimicrobials GO and Cu2O

Abstract

One of the causes of the failure of dental implants is bone loss due to bacterial infiltration. To minimize this problem, biofilm adhesion on the abutments must be avoided to improve soft tissue sealing. The present work aimed the functionalization of titanium abutment surface with antimicrobials graphene oxide and copper oxide. The samples were divided into 4 groups: G1 (Cu2O coating); G2 (GO coating); G3 (GO + Cu2O coating) and G4 (no coating). They were characterized by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Raman spectroscopy, roughness, and wettability. Bacterial viability on the abutment surface was also investigated using a qualitative live/dead assay. After surface functionalization, all groups had adequate roughness values for soft tissue sealing, less than 0,4 μm. G1 samples had the lowest wettability (2.16 ± 6.23 mJ/m2). The surface of G2 samples had the largest number of dead bacteria (226.334 AU/42.38%). The roughness of G3 (0.094 ± 0.018 μm) had the most similarity to that of natural teeth (0.099 μm). G4 samples had the highest wettability (38.57 ± 10.51 mJ/m2) and allowed the greatest adherence of S. mutans strains (399.056 AU/32.10%).

Keywords

• Abutment
• Titanium
• Copper oxide
• Graphene oxide
• Antimicrobials