Oral microbiota interactions with titanium implants: A pilot in-vivo and in-vitro study on the impact of peri-implantitis

• Published in: PloS one Vol. 20; no. 7; p. e0321428
• Main Authors: Sekar, Priyadharshini, Rizvi, Zuha, Abdullah, Nizam, Samsudin, A. R., Kheder, Waad
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Public Library of Science 02.07.2025; Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subjects: Adult; Analysis; Bacteria; Bacteria - genetics; Bacterial infections; Biofilms; Biofilms - growth & development; Biology and Life Sciences; Complications and side effects; Damage; Dental implants; Dental Implants - adverse effects; Dental Implants - microbiology; Dental prosthetics; Diagnosis; Dysbacteriosis; Electron microscopy; Engineering and Technology; Failure; Female; Genetic testing; Health aspects; Humans; Hydroxyapatite; Implant dentures; In vitro methods and tests; Male; Materials; Medicine and Health Sciences; Microbiota; Microbiota (Symbiotic organisms); Microorganisms; Microscopy; Middle Aged; Mouth - microbiology; Next-generation sequencing; Oral hygiene; Pathogens; Peri-Implantitis - etiology; Peri-Implantitis - microbiology; Physical Sciences; Pilot Projects; Prostheses; Protective coatings; Research ethics; Risk factors; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S - genetics; rRNA 16S; Scanning electron microscopy; Statistical analysis; Surgical implants; Teeth; Titanium; United Arab Emirates; United States > US
• ISSN: 1932-6203; 1932-6203
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0321428

Dental implant therapy is a reliable approach for restoring missing teeth, offering functional and aesthetic benefits in suitable clinical cases. However, there is still a 1.9-11% implant failure rate globally. Oral microbiota plays a significant role in implant failure and peri-implant infections. Hence the impact of oral microbiota on titanium dental implants, particularly in the context of dysbiosis and peri-implant diseases, was investigated by in-vivo and in-vitro methods in this study. This pilot study aimed to investigate the role of oral microbiota in peri-implant diseases associated with titanium implants. For the in-vivo study, oral microbiota was collected from titanium and hydroxyapatite (tooth-mimicking) discs placed in a custom-made intra-oral device worn by four healthy subjects. Biofilm formation, pathobionts, and bacterial diversity were assessed using DAPI staining, qPCR, and next generation sequencing (NGS)-16S rRNA sequencing. For the in-vitro study scanning electron microscopy was employed to examine the effect of oral pathogens on titanium implants. The study found enhanced biofilm formation on titanium implants compared to controls (p < 0.0002). Systematic colonization by Streptococcus oralis, Actinomyces naeslundii, Veillonella parvula, Fusobacterium nucleatum, Porphyromonas gingivalis, and Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans was observed. An abundance of Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes, with a decrease in Proteobacteria on titanium implants was observed by NGS. SEM showed corrosion and damage to titanium implants caused by oral pathogens. The results demonstrate that the use of titanium-based dental implants promotes oral microbiota dysbiosis, tipping the scale towards oral pathogens, which in turn contributes to the damage of the titanium implant surface. Increased biofilm formation of periodontal pathogens and microbial dysbiosis may play a role in implant failure and peri-implant diseases.