New Ceramic Multi-Unit Dental Abutments with an Antimicrobial Glassy Coating

Abstract

The choice of suitable materials and new designs in oral implantology and the subsequent enhancement of the characteristics of the dental implant developed is an important research topic with wide scope. The present work aims to develop a new multifunctional zirconia-ceria/alumina (Ce-TZP/Al₂O₃) composite with an antimicrobial glass-based coating to be used in multi-unit abutments compatible with commercially available Ti implants for peri-implantitis prevention. An airbrush spraying technique was effectively applied to coat the sintered ceramic composite starting from a glass powder suspension. This deposition technique was appropriate for obtaining continuous antimicrobial glass-based coatings with homogenous thickness (~35 µm) on ceramic dental implant components. The dental implant systems with the antimicrobial glassy coating were subjected to a mechanical integrity test following ISO 14801 to determine their long-term stability. The tested implant-coating structure seems to be stable under in vitro conditions with ultimate applied forces exceeding the maximum physiological occlusal loading force. This paper also presents a pilot clinical case report that shows peri-implant tissue around the mechanically stable glass coating with no signs of inflammation 1 year after implant insertion. This result is a preliminary probe of the durability and biological tolerance of the glassy material by the gingiva, as well as the antimicrobial effect on the peri-implant microbiota displayed by the coating.

Keywords: Ce–TZP/Al2O3 ceramic composite; biocide; coating; dental implant; glass; peri-implantitis.

Figure 1

Zirconia–ceria/alumina composite abutment (left), Ti 6Al-4V ELI screw (center) and JD EVOLUTION PLUS+ commercial titanium implant (right).

Figure 2

(A) Image of the device used for the coatings. (B) Photograph of the masks, with (above) and without (below) the abutment.

Figure 3

(A) Embedded specimens simulating vertical bone resorption. (B) Test setup for the fatigue tests.

Figure 4

Coated abutments before (left) and after (right) thermal treatment. (A,B): General views. (C,D): Close-ups of the surfaces.

Figure 5

XRD pattern of the abutment, glass coating and glass-coated abutment.

Figure 6

FESEM micrographs at different magnifications, showing the coating–substrate cross section. (A,B): Before the fatigue test. (C,D): After mechanical testing. No cracking is visible.

Figure 7

Peri-implant tissue surrounding the coated ceramic abutments one year after implant insertion.

Figure 8

Periapical X-ray of a titanium implant with a ceramic composite abutment (A) and detail of the panoramic view (B).