Effect of biofilm formation on implant abutments with an anti-bacterial coating: A pre-clinical in vivo study.

Abstract

To analyse the long-term effect of plaque formation on implant abutments with an antibacterial coating and the ensuing host response in peri-implant tissues. Four implants were installed in each mandibular premolar region following tooth extraction in six dogs. Three months later, two test abutments with a titanium-bismuth-gallium (Ti-Bi-Ga) coating and two control titanium abutments were connected to the implants on each side of the mandible. After 2months, ligatures were placed around the implants in one side of the mandible and plaque formation was allowed until the end of the experiment. The ligatures were removed after 4weeks. Radiographs and microbiological samples were obtained from each implant site during the plaque formation period. Biopsies were obtained 8months after abutment connection and prepared for histological analysis. The analysis did not reveal any statistically significant differences in bone loss, bacterial growth and size of inflammatory lesions between implant units with and without the Ti-Bi-Ga coating. Implant sites exposed to the short period of ligature-induced breakdown demonstrated more pronounced bone loss and bacterial growth than non-ligature sites. It is suggested that a Ti-Bi-Ga coating does not prevent biofilm formation on the implant device and does not influence the ensuing host response in the adjacent peri-implant mucosa.