In Vitro Biofilm Formation on Zirconia Implant Surfaces Treated with Femtosecond and Nanosecond Lasers

Abstract

(1) Background: The purpose of this study was to evaluate how a zirconia implant surface treated with laser technology affects the degree of biofilm formation. (2) Methods: Experimental titanium (Ti) disks were produced that were sandblasted with large grit and acid-etched (T), and they were compared with zirconia (ZrO2) discs with a machined (M) surface topography; a hydrophilic surface topography with a femtosecond laser (HF); and a hydrophobic surface topography with a nanosecond laser (HN) (N = 12 per surface group). An in vitro three-species biofilm sample (Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans (Aa), Porphyromonas gingivalis (Pg), Prevotella intermedia (Pi)) was applied to each disc type, and bacterial adhesion was assessed after 48 and 72 h of incubation using an anaerobic flow chamber model. Statistical significance was determined using the Kruskal–Wallis H test, with Bonferroni correction used for the post-hoc test (α = 0.05). (3) Results: Compared to the T group, the M group exhibited more than twice as many viable bacterial counts in the three-species biofilm samples (p < 0.05). In comparison to the T group, the HF group had significantly higher viable bacterial counts in certain biofilm samples at 48 h (Aa and Pi) and 72 h (Pi) (p < 0.05). The HN group had higher viable bacterial counts in Pi at 48 h (5400 CFU/mL, p < 0.05) than the T group (4500 CFU/mL), while showing significantly lower viable bacterial counts in Pg at both 48 (3010 CFU/mL) and 72 h (3190 CFU/mL) (p < 0.05). (4) Conclusions: The surface treatment method for zirconia discs greatly influences biofilm formation. Notably, hydrophobic surface treatment using a nanosecond laser was particularly effective at inhibiting Pg growth.

The Impact of Mechanical Debridement Techniques on Titanium Implant Surfaces: A Comparison of Sandblasted, Acid-Etched, and Femtosecond Laser-Treated Surfaces

“…A surface sandblasted with large-grit sand and acid-etched (SLA) is adopted to induce surface erosion on blasted surfaces [29]. This method combines large-grit sand particles with acid etching to achieve macro-roughness and micro-pits [30], seeking enhanced surface roughness and osseointegration [31][32][33][34]. Cho and Jung [31] identified that SLA surfaces house expansive cavities (diameter of 5-20 µm) and micro-pits (diameter of 0.5-3 µm), leading to augmented surface roughness and area.…”

Oral Implantology: Current Aspects and Future Perspectives

“…Finally, the results of in vitro studies assessing the distortion generated by intraoral scanning systems for oral rehabilitation with more than three implants were systematically reviewed, showing that digital impression systems generate significant errors during scanning in extensive implant restorative treatments. This is influenced by scanning technology, inter-implant distance, and scanning body type [7][8][9][10].…”