Sealing capability and marginal fit of titanium versus zirconia abutments with different connection designs

PURPOSE: Limited data is available regarding the differences for possible microleakage problems and fitting accuracy of zirconia versus titanium abutments with various connection designs. The purpose of this in vitro study was to investigate the effect of connection design and abutment material on the sealing capability and fitting accuracy of abutments. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 42 abutments with different connection designs [internal conical (IC), internal tri-channel (IT), and external hexagonal (EH)] and abutment materials [titanium (Ti) and zirconia (Zr)] were evaluated. The inner parts of implants were inoculated with 0.7 µL of polymicrobial culture (P. gingivalis, T. forsythia, T. denticola and F. nucleatum) and connected with their respective abutments under sterile conditions. The penetration of bacteria into the surrounding media was assessed by the visual evaluation of turbidity at each time point and the number of colony forming units (CFUs) was counted. The marginal gap at the implant- abutment interface (IAI) was measured by scanning electron microscope. The data sets were statistically analyzed using Kruskal-Wallis followed by Mann-Whitney U tests with the Bonferroni-Holm correction (α=.05). RESULTS: Statistically significant difference was found among the groups based on the results of leaked colonies (P<.05). The EH-Ti group characterized by an external hexagonal connection were less resistant to bacterial leakage than the groups EH-Zr, IT-Zr, IT-Ti, IC-Zr, and IC-Ti (P<.05). The marginal misfit (in µm) of the groups were in the range of 2.7–4.0 (IC-Zr), 1.8–5.3 (IC-Ti), 6.5–17.1 (IT-Zr), 5.4–12.0 (IT-Ti), 16.8–22.7 (EH-Zr), and 10.3–15.4 (EH-Ti). CONCLUSION: The sealing capability and marginal fit of abutments were affected by the type of abutment material and connection design.

Surface deterioration of monolithic CAD/CAM restorative materials after artificial abrasive toothbrushing

PURPOSE: The purpose of this in vitro study was to evaluate the effect of abrasive toothbrushing on the surface properties of monolithic computer-assisted design and computer-assisted manufacturing (CAD/CAM) materials stored in food-simulating liquids (FSLs). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fourty-eight disk-shaped test specimens of each material (Paradigm MZ100/PMZ, Lava Ultimate/LU, Vita Enamic/VE, and Vita Mark II/VMII) with a diameter of 10.0 mm and a thickness of 3.0 ± 0.05 mm were prepared. Specimens were divided into 4 subgroups (n=12) and stored in air, distilled water, 0.02 M citric acid, or 75% ethanol/water solution for 7 days at 36.5℃. Then, the specimens were brushed in a multi-station brushing machine under a vertical load of 2.0 N for 3 hours. Surface gloss (GU), roughness (Ra), and hardness (Vickers [VHN]) were measured after storage and brushing simulation. The data sets were statistically analyzed with 2 and 3-way ANOVAs followed by the Tukey's post-hoc comparisons (α=.05). RESULTS: Statistically significant difference was found among the materials concerning the results of surface properties. VMII showed the highest VHN, while PMZ produced the lowest. Storage in FSLs significantly affected the VHN of PMZ and LU. VMII showed the lowest Ra and highest GU irrespective of FSLs and of abrasive toothbrushing. VE, LU, and PMZ produced significant decrease in GU and increase in Ra after toothbrushing. CONCLUSION: Surface properties of monolithic CAD/CAM restorative materials were differently affected by the storage media and abrasive toothbrushing.