In Vitro Evaluation of Planktonic Growth on Experimental Cement-Retained Titanium Surfaces

Abstract

BACKGROUND The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of selected cements, or their combination with titanium, on the growth of two periodontopathic bacteria: Prevotella intermedia (Pi) and Fusobacterium nucleatum (Fn). MATERIAL AND METHODS This study was comprised of several experimental groups: 1) Dental luting cements (glass ionomer cement, methacrylate-based resin cement, zinc-oxide eugenol cement, eugenol-free zinc oxide cement; 2) titanium discs; and 3) titanium combination cement discs. The disks were submerged in bacterial suspensions of either Fn or Pi. Planktonic bacterial growth within the test media was measured by determining the optical density of the cultures (OD600). Mean and standard deviations were calculated for planktonic growth from three separate experiments. RESULTS Intergroup comparison of all experimental groups revealed increased growth of Pi associated with cement-titanium specimens in comparison with cement specimens. Regarding the comparison of all groups for Fn, there was an increased amount of bacterial growth in cement-titanium specimens although the increase was not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS The combination of cement with titanium may exacerbate the bacterial growth capacity of Pi and Fn in contrast to their sole effect.

Figure 1

Tested well plate example after anaerobic incubation for determining planktonic growth of bacteria.

Figure 2

Planktonic growth measurement by OD₆₀₀ test values for Prevotella intermedia and Fusobacterium nucleatum in the presence of different cement disks. No significant difference was observed. GI – Glass Ionomer; DT – Dentotemp; E – Temp-Bond Eugenol; NE – Temp-Bond Non-Eugenol.

Figure 3

Planktonic growth measurement by OD₆₀₀ test values for Prevotella intermedia and Fusobacterium nucleatum in the presence of titanium combined different cement disks. Ti-GI displayed the most bacterial growth but the difference was not statistically significant in Pi. Ti – Pure Titanium disc; Ti-GI – Glass Ionomer combined with titanium; DT – Dentotemp combined with titanium; E – Temp-Bond Eugenol combined with titanium; NE – Temp-Bond Non-Eugenol combined with titanium.

Figure 4

Planktonic growth measurement by OD₆₀₀ test values for Prevotella intermedia in the presence of cements and different cement discs combined with titanium. There was not significantly different among all groups. Ti – Pure Titanium disc; GI – Glass Ionomer; DT – Dentotemp; E – Temp-Bond Eugenol; NE – Temp-Bond Non-Eugenol Ti-GI – Glass Ionomer combined with titanium; DT – Dentotemp combined with titanium; E – Temp-Bond Eugenol combined with titanium; NE – Temp-Bond Non-Eugenol combined with titanium.

Figure 5

Planktonic growth measurement by OD₆₀₀ test values for Fusobacterium nucleatum in the presence of different cements and cements combined with titanium. There was not significantly different among all groups. Ti – Pure Titanium disc; GI – Glass Ionomer; DT – Dentotemp; E – Temp-Bond Eugenol; NE – Temp-Bond Non-Eugenol; Ti-GI – Glass Ionomer combined with titanium; DT – Dentotemp combined with titanium; E – Temp-Bond Eugenol combined with titanium; NE – Temp-Bond Non-Eugenol combined with titanium.