Bacterial Detection, Deformation, and Torque Loss on Dental Implants with Different Tapered Connections Compared with External Hexagon Connection after Thermomechanical Cycling

Abstract

The relationship between bacterial infiltration and internal conical Implant-Abutment Interfaces (IAIs) with different conicities still requires investigations that can offer valuable information in the clinical understanding of peri-implant health. The present study aimed to verify the bacterial infiltration of two internal conical connections with an angulation of 11.5° and 16° with the external hexagonal connection as a comparative after thermomechanical cycling using saliva as a contaminant. Test (n = 10) and control (n = 3) groups were set up. Evaluations were made on torque loss, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), and Micro Computerized Tomography (MicroCT) after performing 2 × 106 mechanical cycles (120 N) and 600 thermal cycles (5°–55° C) with 2 mm lateral displacement. The contents of the IAI were collected for microbiological analysis. There was a difference (p p < 0.05). In conclusion, the IAI environment may favor a microbiological profile different from that of saliva and the thermocycling condition may alter the microbial profile found in the IAI.

Keywords

• dental implants
• X-ray microtomography
• dental implant-abutment design
• dental abutments