Study of the adherence capacity of microbial biofilms on titanium versus zirconium dioxide (Zirconia) surfaces

Abstract

Introduction. An important role in the appearance of acute or chronic infections is played by bacterial biofilms that contain several bacterial species and that develop preferentially on inert surfaces, dead tissues and medical devices. Purpose. In this material we tried to make an interesting study, regarding the adhesion capacity of microbial biofilms characteristic of the oral cavity of human subjects on the surface of materials used for industrial scale manufacturing of dental implants: titanium and zirconium dioxide (Zirconia). Material and methods. For this study were used plates of Ti4 and zirconia, on which adhesion of different bacterial strains belonging to the species Enterobacter cloacae, Klebsiella oxytoca and Klebsiella pneumonia were tested. Results and discussions. A rather high microbial load was observed on both types of materials for all types of bacterial strains studied. For certain types of strains, a lower colonization was noted in the case of zirconium dioxide compared to Ti4 surfaces. Conclusions. Although Zirconia has been reported to have a lower susceptibility to bacterial adhesion, our study contradicts this aspect specified in the literature. Both titanium and zirconium dioxide are promptly colonized by existing bacteria on the teeth left in the oral cavity.

Keywords

• microbial biofilm
• titanium
• zirconium dioxide
• microbial adhesion