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. 2024 Apr 16;11(4):387.
doi: 10.3390/bioengineering11040387.

Could Dental Material Reuse Play a Significant Role in Preservation of Raw Materials, Water, Energy, and Costs? Microbiological Analysis of New versus Reused Healing Abutments: An In Vitro Study

Roberto Burioni  1 , Lucia Silvestrini  1 , Bianca D'Orto  2 , Giulia Tetè  2 , Matteo Nagni  2 , Elisabetta Polizzi  3 , Enrico Felice Gherlone  4
Affiliations

Could Dental Material Reuse Play a Significant Role in Preservation of Raw Materials, Water, Energy, and Costs? Microbiological Analysis of New versus Reused Healing Abutments: An In Vitro Study

Roberto Burioni et al. Bioengineering (Basel). .

Abstract

Aim: The objective of this in vitro study was to compare reused and sterilized versus new healing abutments to assess whether a decontamination and sterilization process performed on resued healing abutments was sufficient to remove residual proteins. The two groups were comparable with respect to patient safety.

Materials and methods: During the period from September 2022 to October 2023, healing abutment screws were selected and divided into two groups according to whether they were new or previously used in patients. The samples were subjected to a decontamination and sterilization protocol, and results from sample sterility evaluation and assessment of surface protein levels were recorded.

Results: The obtained results revealed a significant difference in the OD562 nm values between new and reused healing abutment samples. The assay demonstrates how treated healing abutments were still contaminated by residual proteins.

Conclusion: Within the limitations of the present study, although from an infectious point of view sterilization results in the total eradication of pathogens, surface proteins remain on reused healing abutments.

Keywords: contamination; dental disinfectants; dental implant; healing abutment; sterilization.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Workflow details.
Figure 2
Figure 2
HAs following the above-described decontamination and sterilization process.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Colorimetric variation based on reduction of Cu2+ in the presence of protein and in an alkaline environment and subsequent chelation reaction between BCA and Cu1+ resulting from the first reaction.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Sterile tube containing a HA in BCA solution.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Sterile tubes free of HAs and containing only BCS.
Figure 6
Figure 6
Aliquots of 150 µL were added to 96-well plates in triplicate. All tubes retain the green coloring as the reaction to test for surface proteins has not yet been performed. The three sterile tubes free of HAs and containing only BCS are placed apart on the left to distinguish them from the sample under examination.
Figure 7
Figure 7
BSA standard curve.
Figure 8
Figure 8
Configuration obtained with the MicroBCA assay. Reused healing screws with surface proteins appear violet in color.
Figure 9
Figure 9
Difference in the OD562 nm values between new and reused HA samples.
Figure 10
Figure 10
Average residual protein concentration detected in the eluate from TG screws.
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