Microbiological cleaning and disinfection efficacy of a three-stage ultrasonic processing protocol for CAD-CAM implant abutments.

PURPOSE: Computer-aided design and manufacturing (CAD-CAM) of implant abutments has been shown to result in surface contamination from site-specific milling and fabrication processes. If not removed, these contaminants can have a potentially adverse effect and may trigger inflammatory responses of the peri-implant tissues. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the bacterial disinfection and cleaning efficacy of ultrasonic reprocessing in approved disinfectants to reduce the microbial load of CAD-CAM abutments. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Four different types of custom implant abutments (total N = 32) with eight specimens in each test group (type I to IV) were CAD-CAM manufactured. In two separate contamination experiments, specimens were contaminated with heparinized sheep blood alone and with heparinized sheep blood and the test bacterium Enterococcus faecium. Abutments in the test group were processed according to a three-stage ultrasonic protocol and assessed qualitatively and quantitatively by determination of residual protein. Ultrasonicated specimens contaminated with sheep blood and E. faecium were additionally eluted and the dilutions were incubated on agar plates for seven days. The determined bacterial counts were expressed as colony-forming units (CFU). RESULTS: Ultrasonic reprocessing resulted in a substantial decrease in residual bacterial protein to less than 80 µg and a reduction in microbiota of more than 7 log levels of CFU for all abutment types, exceeding the effect required for disinfection. CONCLUSION: A three-stage ultrasonic cleaning and disinfection protocol results in effective bacterial decontamination. The procedure is reproducible and complies with the standardized reprocessing and disinfection specifications for one- or two-piece CAD-CAM implant abutments.

Optical Efficacy of Titanium Nitride-Coated Abutment Material on Soft Tissue Discoloration: A Spectrophotometric In Vitro Analysis.

PURPOSE: The objective of this investigation was to assess the extent of mucosal discoloration caused by different CAD/CAM abutment materials and to determine the influence of mucosa thickness on the subsequent color, with a particular focus on titanium nitride. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In a pig maxilla, a trapdoor-shaped mucosa flap was prepared unilaterally. Several CAD/CAM abutment materials were used to assess a number of clinical scenarios. Varying mucosa thicknesses were simulated by connective tissue grafts harvested at the contralateral side of the palate, resulting in layer thicknesses of 1.5, 2, and 3 mm. Titanium (Ti), zirconia (ZrO2), and titanium nitride (TiN) served as test specimens with and without ceramic veneering. Color differences (ΔE) and deviations in brightness (L), chroma (C), and hue (H) were determined spectrophotometrically, comparing the measured value of the native tissue and the results obtained with different materials at varying mucosa thicknesses. RESULTS: All tested specimens caused a mucosa discoloration in comparison to the native tissue, diminishing with increasing mucosa thickness. The use of TiN demonstrated the least mucosa discoloration in thin soft tissue of 1.5 mm, with a mean ΔE value of 1.93 (P = .004). While ZrO2 revealed a comparable ΔE value of 2.13 (P = .022) at a tissue thickness of 1.5 mm, Ti showed the highest mucosa discoloration above the visibility threshold of ΔE = 3.1, with a mean ΔE value of 4.07 (P = .002). Ceramic veneering of the Ti samples led to a considerable reduction in soft tissue discoloration, with a resulting ΔE value of 2.2. The veneering of TiN and ZrO2 samples with porcelain, on the other hand, had no noticeable effect on the mucosa color. CONCLUSION: CAD/CAM abutment materials cause an adverse soft tissue color shift that decreases with increasing mucosa thickness. In thin peri-implant mucosa, titanium nitride and zirconia lead to the least discoloration. Due to their positive optical properties and mechanical superiority compared with ceramic abutments, gold-hue titanium nitride-coated CAD/CAM abutments could be a clinical alternative in cases of thin peri-implant mucosa.

Temporary intermaxillary fixation using individualized acrylic splints permits image-data-based surgery of the lower jaw and oropharynx.

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: Image-data-based surgical navigation is used as a helpful device in the operating room to localize critical structures with a high degree of accuracy. It also enables physicians to plan therapeutic performance. Because it relies on preoperatively acquired computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data, there is restricted access for navigation of surgical instruments in areas that show motion uncorrelated with radiologic data. Thus, in the case of moveable structures, for example the lower jaw, navigational procedures could not yet be applied. STUDY DESIGN: We introduce a new technique using individualized intermaxillary splints that fix the mandible in a reproducible aboccluded position at the time of image-data acquisition and surgery. METHODS: Different manufacturing processes were investigated. The feasibility of uni- and bilateral intermaxillary splints was studied under clinical conditions in four patients during different procedures in the mandibular and oropharyngeal regions. RESULTS: The manufacturing of the splints showed was easily performed in a short time. With bilateral fixation, there was a high anatomic target precision of 1.6 to 2.3 mm. CONCLUSIONS: The use of bilateral intermaxillary splints that fix the patient's mandible in a reproducible aboccluded position permits an image-data-based navigated surgical approach to the oropharyngeal and mandibular regions.