The effect of surface roughness on early in vivo plaque colonization on titanium

This study assesses in vivo the surface roughness necessary to reduce plaque colonization on titanium after 24 hours. Three groups of 16 titanium disks were assigned to 3 different polishing groups (A, B, and C). The roughness was evaluated with a laser profilometer and the morphology with a scanning electron microscope (SEM). Eight volunteers were enrolled and two stents were applied in the mandibular posterior region of each. Each stent supported 3 disks, one per group. The volunteers suspended oral hygiene for 24 hours, after which the stents were removed; one was processed for evaluation of the adherent biomass and the other for SEM study. On each specimen a global area of 100 x 125 μm was examined with SEM. The area was composed of five 20 x 25 μm randomly selected fields. For each field the density of bacteria and the morphotypes were recorded. The data quoted for the global area are cumulative of those observed in the 20 x 25 μm fields. Group A had a significantly smoother surface than groups B and C. The adherent microbial biomass determination and SEM evaluation revealed that group A contained less bacteria than the roughest group. The bacterial population was composed of cocci in group A, and of cocci and short and long rods in groups B and C. We conclude that a titanium surface with Ra ≤ 0.088 μm and Rz ≤ 1.027 μm strongly inhibits accumulation and maturation of plaque at the 24-hour time period and that such smoothness can be achieved in transgingival and healing implant components.