Colonization of Streptococcus mutans on Titanium Implant Abutment with Different Hygiene Instruments under Scanning Electron Microscopy

摘要

This study was aimed to describe the differences in amounts of Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans) colonization on the titanium-implant abutment surfaces after treatment with two different hygiene instruments by using Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). Fifteen Dentium Combi titanium-implant abutments were randomly divided equally into three groups. Five abutments were selected for untreated/control (C) group and the other two groups which were treated with rubber cup with pumice powder (RC) and air polishing (AP) respectively. S. mutans was then cultured on untreated and treated specimens. One sample from each group was randomly selected and observed for the bacterial colonization on the surface of abutment using SEM. At x2000 magnification, the machining marks were observed in C and AP groups whereas the surface was smoothened in RC group. Sparse colonies could be observed in both C and RC groups but moderate colonies was noticed in AP group at a magnification of x5000. At x10 000 magnification, multilayers of bacterial chains could be seen in C and AP groups, while a monolayer of bacterial chain was found in RC group. RC instrumentation revealed lesser amounts of S. mutans colonization compared to instrumentation with AP.