A randomized, controlled, clinical study on a new titanium oxide abutment surface for improved healing and soft tissue health

• Published in: Clinical implant dentistry and related research Vol. 21; no. S1; pp. 55 - 68
• Main Authors: Hall, Jan, Neilands, Jessica, Davies, Julia R., Ekestubbe, Annika, Friberg, Bertil
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hoboken, USA John Wiley & Sons, Inc 01.03.2019; Wiley Subscription Services, Inc
• Subjects: Anatase; Anodizing; Biofilms; Bleeding; bleeding on probing; Colonization; Dental Abutments; Gene expression; Gingiva; Healing; Health; Humans; keratinized mucosa height; Mucosa; Nanostructure; new abutment surface; Odontologi; Odontology; Proteolysis; Randomization; RCT; soft tissue healing and health; Soft tissues; Surface Properties; Test procedures; Tissues; Titanium; Titanium oxide; Titanium oxides; Tooth; Wound Healing; Zirconium; keratinized mucosa height; RCT; soft tissue healing and health; bleeding on probing; new abutment surface
• ISSN: 1523-0899; 1708-8208; 1708-8208
• DOI: 10.1111/cid.12749

Background A newly developed, anodized titanium oxide surface containing anatase has been reported to have antimicrobial properties that could reduce bacterial adherence to abutments. Purpose To investigate if abutments with the anodized surface improve healing and soft tissue health in a randomized controlled study. Materials and Methods Test abutments with a nanostructured anodized surface were compared with control machined titanium abutments. In total, 35 subjects each received a pair of test and control abutments. The primary endpoint was reduction of biofilm formation at test abutments at the 6‐week follow‐up. Secondary endpoints included several soft tissue assessments. qPCR for gene markers was used to indirectly evaluate healing and soft tissue health. Results No significant differences in biofilm formation were observed between test and control abutments, but soft tissue bleeding upon abutment removal was significantly lower for test abutments compared with control abutments (P = 0.006) at 6 weeks. Keratinized mucosa height was significantly greater at test abutments compared with control abutments at the 6‐week, 6‐month, and 2‐year follow‐ups. Significant gene expression differences indicated differences in healing and tissue remodeling. Conclusions Abutments with an anodized and nanostructured surface compared with a conventional, machined titanium surface had no significant effect on bacterial colonization and proteolytic activity but were associated with better soft tissue outcomes such as a lower bleeding index at abutment removal and consistently greater height of keratinized mucosa throughout the 2‐year follow‐up, suggesting improved surface‐dependent peri‐implant healing and soft tissue health.