Predictability of Microbial Adhesion to Dental Materials by Roughness Parameters

Abstract

Microbial adhesion to intraoral biomaterials is associated with surface roughness. For the prevention of oral pathologies, smooth surfaces with little biofilm formation are required. Ideally, appropriate roughness parameters make microbial adhesion predictable. Although a multitude of parameters are available, surface roughness is commonly described by the arithmetical mean roughness value (Ra). The present study investigates whether Ra is the most appropriate roughness parameter in terms of prediction for microbial adhesion to dental biomaterials. After four surface roughness modifications using standardized polishing protocols, zirconia, polymethylmethacrylate, polyetheretherketone, and titanium alloy specimens were characterized by Ra as well as 17 other parameters using confocal microscopy. Specimens of the tested materials were colonized by C. albicans or S. sanguinis for 2 h; the adhesion was measured via luminescence assays and correlated with the roughness parameters. The adhesion of C. albicans showed a tendency to increase with increasing the surface roughness—the adhesion of S. sanguinis showed no such tendency. Although Sa, that is, the arithmetical mean deviation of surface roughness, and Rdc, that is, the profile section height between two material ratios, showed higher correlations with the microbial adhesion than Ra, these differences were not significant. Within the limitations of this in-vitro study, we conclude that Ra is a sufficient roughness parameter in terms of prediction for initial microbial adhesion to dental biomaterials with polished surfaces.

Antimicrobial and anti-adhesive properties of carbon nanotube-based surfaces for medical applications: a systematic review

“…The role of polymer matrices on the overall antimicrobial activity of CNT/polymer composites can be attributed not only to the preservation of the inherent cytotoxicity of SWCNTs and MWCNTs ( Goodwin et al., 2015 ) but also to the promotion of the contact between CNTs and microorganism cell walls by reducing CNT autoaggregation ( Mohamed et al., 2019 ) ( Figure 4 ). Regarding the anti-adhesive effect of CNT/polymer composites, it seems to be strictly related with the uniform layer of polymer that surrounds the CNT surface and protect them from nonspecific protein adsorption, as well as with the CH-π interactions established between the polymer and the CNT surface ( Upadhyayula and Gadhamshetty, 2010 ; Beigbeder et al., 2008 ), and the topographic structure of the CNT/polymer composite surface (rough surfaces revealed to be more vulnerable to microbial adhesion than smooth surfaces) ( Kim et al., 2019 ; Schubert et al., 2019 ; Dantas et al., 2016 ).…”

The Effects of Toothbrush Wear on the Surface Roughness and Gloss of Resin Composites with Various Types of Matrices

“…As a result of the weak bond, some of the large fillers might have detached from the matrix, resulting in concavity in the surface following toothbrushing abrasion, thereby increasing the surface roughness and decreasing the surface gloss [ 28 ]. Many studies concluded that toothbrushing significantly increases surface roughness [ 24 , 27 ] and any surface roughness above a threshold of 0.2 μm increases bacteria retention [ 29 ]. Therefore, the surface of a restoration is of considerable importance because it affects the function of a tooth through wear, abrasiveness, and build-up of plaque and calculus [ 30 ].…”

Antibacterial and Antifungal Activities of PMMAs Implanted Fluorine and/or Silver Ions by Plasma-Based Ion Implantation with Argon

“…The desirable attributes of PMMA include low cost, high biocompatibility, and easy handling; consequently, it is commonly used in dentistry [ 2 ]. Dental appliances made of PMMA have direct contact with oral tissues, and because the oral cavity contains a variety of microorganisms, PMMA based appliances in the mouth are immediately covered by salivary components and colonized by a multitude of microorganisms that may form biofilms [ 3 ]. Biofilm formation on dental devices may cause dental caries, periodontal diseases, or inflammation of oral soft tissue [ 4 , 5 , 6 ].…”