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The mucosal barrier at implantabutments of different materials
Maria WelanderIngemar AbrahamssonTord Berglundh
Authors’ affiliation:Maria Welander, Ingemar Abrahamsson, TordBerglundh, Department of Periodontology, TheSahlgrenska Academy at Goteborg University,Goteborg, Sweden
Correspondence to:Maria Welander, Department of PeriodontologyThe Sahlgrenska Academy at Goteborg UniversityBox 450405 30 GoteborgSwedenTel.: þ 4631 786 3780Fax: þ 4631 786 3791e-mail: [email protected]
Key words: biomaterials, dental implants, gold alloy, histology, peri-implant mucosa, soft
tissue, titanium, zirconia
Abstract
Objective: The aim of the present study was to analyze the soft tissue barrier formed to
implant abutments made of different materials.
Material and methods: Six Labrador dogs, about 1 year old, were used. All mandibular
premolars and the first, second and third maxillary premolars were extracted. Three months
later four implants (OsseoSpeedt, 4.5 � 9 mm, Astra Tech Dental, Molndal, Sweden) were
placed in the edentulous premolar region on one side of the mandible and healing
abutments were connected. One month later, the healing abutments were disconnected
and four new abutments were placed in a randomized order. Two of the abutments were
made of titanium (Ti), while the remaining abutments were made of ZrO2 or AuPt-alloy. A
5-months plaque control program was initiated. Three months after implant surgery, the
implant installation procedure and the subsequent abutment shift were repeated in the
contra-lateral mandibular region. Two months later, the dogs were euthanized and biopsies
containing the implant and the surrounding soft and hard peri-implant tissues were
collected and prepared for histological analysis.
Results: It was demonstrated that the soft tissue dimensions at Ti- and ZrO2 abutments
remained stable between 2 and 5 months of healing. At Au/Pt-alloy abutment sites,
however, an apical shift of the barrier epithelium and the marginal bone occurred between
2 and 5 months of healing. In addition, the 80-mm-wide connective tissue zone lateral to the
Au/Pt-alloy abutments contained lower amounts of collagen and fibroblasts and larger
fractions of leukocytes than the corresponding connective tissue zone of abutments made
of Ti and ZrO2.
Conclusion: It is suggested that the soft tissue healing to abutments made of titanium and
ZrO2 is different to that at abutments made of AuPt-alloy.
The soft tissue barrier around dental im-
plants serves as a protective seal between
the oral environment and the underlying
peri-implant bone. The interface between
the peri-implant mucosa and dental
implants made of c.p. titanium is com-
prised of one epithelial and one connective
tissue component and the structure and
function of this barrier tissue were de-
scribed previously (Berglundh et al. 1991,
2007; Buser et al. 1992; Berglundh &
Lindhe 1996; Abrahamsson et al. 1997,
1999, 2002, 2003; Cochran et al. 1997).
The clinical situation in implant therapy
may for technical or esthetic reasons re-
quire alternative materials to titanium in
the transmucosal part of the implant. The
choice of the material, however, must be
Date:Accepted 5 November 2007
To cite this article:Welander M, Abrahamsson I, Berglundh T. The mucosalbarrier at implant abutments of different materials.Clin. Oral Impl. Res. 19, 2008; 635–641.doi: 10.1111/j.1600-0501.2008.01543.x
c� 2008 The Authors. Journal compilation c� 2008 Blackwell Munksgaard 635
based on its ability to promote integration
to the connective tissue of the peri-implant
mucosa during healing.
The healing around implants made of
gold-alloys or ceramic materials were ana-
lyzed in experimental studies in animals.
The majority of studies described integra-
tion between bone and the biomaterial and
it was reported that osseointegration to
titanium was superior to that at gold-alloys
(Albrektsson et al. 1982; Thomsen et al.
1997; Abrahamsson & Cardaropoli 2007).
Healing around ceramic implants made of
zirconium, on the other hand, resulted in
bone formation in contact with the bio-
material, which was similar to that at
implants made of titanium (Albrektsson
et al. 1985; Thomsen et al. 1997; Sennerby
et al. 2005).
The integration of oral mucosa to im-
plant components of different materials
was examined in few studies. Abrahams-
son et al. (1998), in an experimental study
in dogs, reported that the implant material
was of decisive importance for the quality
of the attachment that formed between the
mucosa and the implant abutment. While
abutments made of aluminum-based cera-
mic provided conditions for a mucosal
attachment that was similar to that of
titanium, gold-alloy abutments did not
promote healing that resulted in integra-
tion of connective tissue to the implant
component and, in such sites, the mucosal
attachment was established apical to the
abutment/fixture junction. Conflicting
data were reported in an experimental
study on dogs by Abrahamsson &
Cardaropoli (2007). In this experiment,
the soft tissue dimensions were similar
at implants made of gold-alloy and tita-
nium. Furthermore, Vigolo et al. (2006)
in a study on 20 subjects reported that
no clinical differences in soft tissue
conditions were detected between im-
plants with either titanium or gold-alloy
abutments.
There is limited information on soft
tissue integration to implants made of
zirconium. Results presented in clinical
reports indicated that favorable soft tissue
results were obtained around abutments
made of zirconium (Brodbeck 2003; Kohal
& Klaus 2004a; Tan & Dunne 2004).
Glauser et al. (2004) in a 4-year follow-up
on 18 subjects reported that healthy mu-
cosal conditions and stable marginal bone
levels were observed at implants with zir-
conium abutments.
The aim of the present study was to
further analyze the soft tissue barrier
formed to implant abutments made of
different materials.
Material and methods
Six Labrador dogs, about 1 year old, were
used. The regional Ethics Committee for
Animal research, Goteborg, Sweden, ap-
proved the study protocol. All surgical
procedures were performed using general
anesthesia induced with propofol (10 mg/
ml, 0.6 ml/kg) intravenously and sustained
with N2O : O2 (1 : 1, 5–2) and isoflurane
employing endotracheal intubation.
At the start of the experiment, all man-
dibular premolars and the first, second and
third maxillary premolars were extracted.
Three months later, buccal and lingual
mucoperiostal flaps were elevated and
four implants (OsseoSpeedt, 4.5 ST �9 mm, Astra Tech Dental, Molndal,
Sweden) were placed in the edentulous
premolar region in one side of the mand-
ible. Healing abutments (Zebrat 6 mm,
Astra Tech Dental, Molndal, Sweden)
were connected to the implants and the
flaps were adjusted and sutured.
One month after implant placement, the
healing abutments were disconnected and
four new abutments were placed in a
randomized order (Fig. 1). Two of the
abutments were made of titanium (Ti),
while the remaining abutments were
made of ZrO2 (ceramic) or AuPt-alloy
(cast-to). All abutments had similar dimen-
sions and geometry. A 5-month plaque
control program was initiated. The pro-
gram included cleaning of implants and
teeth with a toothbrush and dentifrice
once a day, 5 days a week.
Three months after implant surgery, the
implant installation procedure and the sub-
sequent abutment shift were repeated in
the contra-lateral mandibular region.
Two months later, i.e. 5 months after
the first abutment connection procedure,
the dogs were euthanized by an overdose of
Sodium-Pentothals
(Abbott Scandinavia
AB, Solna, Sweden) and perfused through
the carotid arteries by a fixative (Karnovsky
1965). The mandibles were removed and
placed in the fixative. The implant sites
were dissected using a diamond saw (Exakt
Apparatebau, Norderstedt, Germany). The
tissue blocks that included the implant and
the surrounding soft and hard peri-implant
tissues, were processed using a modifica-
tion of the fracture technique (Thomsen &
Ericson 1985) as described by Berglundh et
al. (1991, 1994). The tissue samples were
placed in ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid
(EDTA). Before the hard tissue was fully
decalcified incisions, parallel with the long
axis of the implant, were made through the
peri-implant tissues. Four different units,
mesio-buccal, disto-buccal, mesio-lingual
and disto-lingual were hereby obtained and
carefully separated from the implants. Dec-
alcification was completed in EDTA and
dehydration was performed in serial steps
of ethanol concentrations. A secondary
fixation in OsO4 was performed and the
specimens were embedded in epoxy resin
(EPONs
Fluka Chemie GmbH, Buchs,
Switzerland) (Schroeder 1969). Sections
were produced with the microtome set at
3 mm and stained in PAS and toluidine blue
(Schroeder 1969).
The histological examination was per-
formed in a Leica DM-RBEs
microscope
(Leica, Heidelberg, Germany) equipped
with an image system Q-500 MCs
(Leica).
Fig. 1. The four abutments (from left: Ti, ZrO2, Ti, Au/Pt-alloy) in place 1 month after implant placement.
Welander et al . The mucosal barrier at implant abutments of different materials
636 | Clin. Oral Impl. Res. 19, 2008 / 635–641 c� 2008 The Authors. Journal compilation c� 2008 Blackwell Munksgaard
Histological measurements
In each section, the following landmarks
were identified and used for the linear
measurements (Fig. 2): PM, the margin of
the peri-implant mucosa; aJE, the apical
termination of the barrier epithelium; B,
the marginal level of bone to implant con-
tact; A/F, the abutment/fixture borderline.
The vertical distances between the land-
marks were determined in a direction that
was parallel to the long axis of the implant.
The composition of the connective tis-
sue compartment of the peri-implant mu-
cosa that was in contact with the different
abutments and interposed between aJE and
A/F was assessed using a stereological
technique as described previously (Schroe-
der & Munzel-Pedrazzoli 1973; Berglundh
et al. 1991; Abrahamsson et al. 1999). The
analysis was confined to an 80-mm-wide
tissue zone lateral to the abutment inter-
face. A lattice comprising 100 light points
was superimposed over the tissue at a
magnification of � 1000 and the relative
proportions of the connective tissue occu-
pied by collagen (Co), fibroblasts (Fi), vas-
cular structures (V), leukocytes (Leu) and
residual tissue (R) (e.g., nerves, matrix
components and unidentified structures)
were determined. The relative volume of
infiltrating leukocytes within the barrier
epithelium was assessed according to
methods described by Schroeder (1973)
and Berglundh et al. (1992a, 1992b). A
lattice comprising 400 points was super-
imposed over the epithelium at a magnifi-
cation of � 1000 and the percentage of
infiltrating leukocytes in relation to the
volume of the barrier epithelium was
determined.
Data analysis
Mean values from the different assess-
ments were calculated for each abutment
type and animal (n¼6). Differences were
analyzed using the two-way analysis of
variance (ANOVA) and the Student–
Newman–Keuls test. The null hypothesis
was rejected at Po0.05.
Results
One implant in one dog was lost during the
healing after implant surgery. Healing at
the 47 remaining implant sites was
uneventful.
Histological observations
The soft tissue interface to the different
implant abutments comprised an epithelial
and connective tissue portion that followed
the geometry of the devices made of tita-
nium (Ti), ZrO2 (ceramic) and AuPt-alloy
(cast-to). In sections from Ti- and ceramic-
abutment sites, the dimensions of epithe-
lial and connective tissue components
remained stable between 2 and 5 months
of healing. At cast-to sites, however, an
apical shift of the barrier epithelium and
the level of marginal bone occurred in most
sites between 2 and 5 months of healing.
The results from the linear measurements
are presented in Table 1. Thus, the barrier
epithelium at Ti- and ceramic abutments
at 2 months of healing extended to a dis-
tance apical of PM that was 1.80 and
1.60 mm, while at 5 months the corre-
sponding dimensions were 1.83 and
1.75 mm, respectively. In sections repre-
senting cast-to abutments; however, the
mean PM to aJE distance increased from
1.56 to 2.07 mm between 2 and 5 months
of healing. Similar observations were made
regarding the position of marginal bone
level at the different abutments. Thus, at
Ti- and ceramic-abutment sites the dis-
tance between A/F and B was 1.17 and
1.07 mm at 2 months, and 1.02 and
0.95 mm at 5 months, respectively. The
corresponding distances at cast-to abut-
ment sites representing 2 and 5 months
of healing were 1.05 and 1.71 mm, respec-
tively.
The results from the assessments of the
composition of the connective tissue com-
partment in contact with the different
abutments are presented in Tables 2 and
3. The barrier epithelium extended to a
position that was apical of the A/F border-
line in four out of six cast-to abutment sites
at 5 months of healing and, hence, im-
peded connective tissue analysis. In sites
representing 2 months of healing, the
volume fractions occupied by collagen and
fibroblasts were significantly smaller at
cast-to sites than at Ti and ceramic sites.
Conversely, the proportions of leukocytes
and residual tissue were significantly larger
Fig. 2. Buccal-lingual section showing the land-
marks used for the histometric measurements.
PM, the marginal portion of the peri-implant mu-
cosa; aJE, the apical extension of the barrier epithe-
lium; A/F, the abutment/fixture borderline; B, the
marginal level of bone to implant contact.
Table 1. Dimensions of the peri-implant mucosa at 2 and 5 months of healing
Landmarks Ti Ceramic Cast-to
2 m 5 m 2 m 5 m 2 m 5 m
PM–B 3.13 (0.33) 2.85 (0.37) 3.08 (0.39) 2.82 (0.38) 3.04 (0.34) 3.54 (1.05)PM–aJE 1.80 (0.29) 1.83 (0.22) 1.60 (0.31) 1.75 (0.27) 1.56 (0.40) 2.07 (0.51)A/F–B 1.17 (0.26) 1.02 (0.34) 1.07 (0.27) 0.95 (0.27) 1.05 (0.41) 1.71 (1.30)
Mean values and standard deviations.
Table 2. The composition of the connectivetissue zone between aJE and A/F at 2months of healing
% Ti Ceramic Cast-to
Co 41.4 (10.7) 43.5 (7.7) 18.6 (6.9)n
V 7.3 (5.1) 6.6 (3.1) 3.9 (3.6)Fi 29.2 (9.1) 35.0 (9.0) 15.9 (6.9)n
Leu 7.5 (4.0) 6.5 (3.9) 25.3 (6.4)n
R 14.6 (9.3) 8.5 (7.2) 36.5 (17.0)n
Mean values and standard deviations.nPo0.05 between cast-to and Ti and between
cast-to and ceramic.
Welander et al . The mucosal barrier at implant abutments of different materials
c� 2008 The Authors. Journal compilation c� 2008 Blackwell Munksgaard 637 | Clin. Oral Impl. Res. 19, 2008 / 635–641
at cast-to abutment sites than at tissue
units obtained from Ti- and ceramic-abut-
ment sites. The tissue composition in
sections prepared from the 5-month speci-
mens from cast-to abutment sites was
similar to that assessed in the 2-month
samples. At Ti- and ceramic-abutment
sites, however, the densities of collagen
increased and leukocytes decreased be-
tween 2 and 5 months of healing
(Figs 3a–c and 4a–c). The large differences
in tissue composition at 2 months between
sites representing cast-to abutments on
the one hand and Ti- and ceramic abut-
ments on the other, persisted at 5 months
of healing. Thus, in cast-to sites available
for connective tissue analysis the densities
of collagen and fibroblasts remained
smaller, while the proportions of leuko-
cytes and residual tissue were found to be
larger than in Ti- and ceramic-abutment
sites (Fig. 5a–c).
The results from the assessments of
leukocytes residing in the barrier epithe-
lium of the peri-implant mucosa are
reported in Table 4. At 2 months, the
relative volume of infiltrating leukocytes
within the epithelium was 6.7–6.8% at Ti
and cast-to abutments and 5.2% at ceramic-
abutment sites. This difference was statis-
tically significant. At 5 months of healing,
the densities of leukocytes had decreased
and varied between 3.5% and 4.5%.
Discussion
In the present study, soft tissue healing to
implant abutments made of titanium,
ZrO2 and AuPt-alloy was analyzed. It
was demonstrated that the soft tissue
dimensions at Ti and ZrO2 abutments
remained stable between 2 and 5 months
of healing. At Au/Pt-alloy abutment sites,
however, an apical shift of the barrier
epithelium and the marginal bone occurred
between 2 and 5 months of healing. In
addition, the connective tissue interface at
Au/Pt-alloy abutments contained lower
amounts of collagen and fibroblasts and
larger fractions of leukocytes than the con-
nective tissue interface of abutments made
of Ti and ZrO2. It is suggested that the soft
tissue healing to abutments made of tita-
nium and ZrO2 is different to that at
abutments made of AuPt-alloy.
Soft tissue healing to implant abutments
of different materials was examined pre-
viously. Thus, Abrahamsson et al. (1998)
placed six Branemark implants in the man-
dibular premolar regions of five dogs. Abut-
ments made of c.p. titanium, ceramic
(highly sintered Al2O3), gold-alloy and
dental porcelain were connected in a sec-
ond stage surgery 3 months later. Biopsies
were obtained after 6 months of plaque
control. It was reported that healing at
ceramic and titanium abutments allowed
the formation of a mucosal attachment
that included an epithelial and a connective
tissue portion that were about 2 mm and
1–1.5 mm high, respectively. Abrahams-
son et al. (1998) also reported that no
proper mucosal attachment was formed to
Table 3. The composition of the connectivetissue zone between aJE and A/F at 5months of healing
% Ti Ceramic Cast-tonn
Co 50.1 (5.3) 48.5 (6.1) 18.1 (25.6)V 6.5 (1.2) 8.0 (7.6) 4.9 (6.9)Fi 36.8 (6.9) 34.2 (9.5) 16.8 (22.3)Leu 1.6 (2.0) 2.6 (2.0) 29.8 (23.5)R 5.1 (1.8) 6.8 (7.4) 31.4 (31.3)
Mean values and standard deviations.nnData obtained from two animals.
Fig. 3. (a) Buccal-lingual section of the peri-implant tissues at a titanium abutment at 5 months of healing.
Original magnification � 25. (b) Detail given in (a) showing the barrier epithelium with a few infiltrating
leukocytes and the underlying connective tissue. Original magnification � 400. (c) Detail given in (a)
showing the collagen rich connective tissue with fibroblasts and few vessels in the abutment/connective tissue
interface area. Original magnification � 400.
Fig. 4. (a) Buccal-lingual section of the peri-implant tissues at a ceramic abutment at 5 months of healing.
Original magnification � 25. (b) Detail given in (a) showing the barrier epithelium with a few infiltrating
leukocytes and the underlying connective tissue. Original magnification � 400. (c) Detail given in (a)
showing the collagen rich connective tissue with fibroblasts and few vessels in the abutment/connective tissue
interface area. Original magnification � 400.
Welander et al . The mucosal barrier at implant abutments of different materials
638 | Clin. Oral Impl. Res. 19, 2008 / 635–641 c� 2008 The Authors. Journal compilation c� 2008 Blackwell Munksgaard
abutments made of gold-alloy and dental
porcelain and at such sites, recession of the
mucosal margin and bone resorption
occurred. The finding in the study by
Abrahamsson et al. (1998) that healing to
abutments made of gold-alloy was different
than that at ceramic and titanium abut-
ments is supported by observations made
in the current experiment. Thus, the bar-
rier epithelium and the marginal bone level
were found to extend to a more apical
position at cast-to (Au/Pt-alloy) than at
Ti and ceramic abutments at 5 months of
healing. This finding indicates that healing
at 2 months at cast-to abutments was
incomplete and that the apical shift of
epithelium and marginal bone that was
observed at 5 months in the present study
represents a stage of tissue reaction to
establish a mucosal seal that extended
apical to the A/F border, i.e., in contact
with the titanium surface of the implant.
In the present study, it was also demon-
strated that the connective tissue portion of
the mucosa that was in contact with cast-
to abutments contained smaller amounts
of collagen and fibroblasts and larger pro-
portions of inflammatory cells and residual
tissue than the corresponding tissue unit at
ceramic and Ti abutments. The connective
tissue composition at the cast-to abut-
ments revealed in the current study may
thus resemble an insufficient mucosal
adaptation resulting in epithelial prolifera-
tion and bone loss.
The finding presented in the present
experiment and in the study by Abrahams-
son et al. (1998) that soft tissue healing to
implant components made of gold-alloy
was insufficient, is not in agreement with
data reported in a recent study by Abra-
hamsson & Cardaropoli (2007). They eval-
uated soft and hard tissue healing to
implants made of titanium or gold-alloy.
Implants were placed in the mandibular
premolar regions of four dogs and biopsies
were collected after 6 months. The histo-
logical analysis of the ground sections
revealed that the dimension of the barrier
epithelium and the position of the marginal
bone were similar at sites representing
titanium and gold-alloy implants. The
absence of differences in soft tissue dimen-
sions between the two implant types in the
study by Abrahamsson & Cardaropoli
(2007) is partly consistent with observa-
tions made in sites from 2 months of
healing in the present study. Thus, the
values describing the apical extension of
the barrier epithelium and the position of
the marginal bone at cast-to (Au/Pt) abut-
ments were comparable to those at Ti and
ceramic sites. The evaluation of the com-
position of the connective tissue portion in
contact with the abutment material, how-
ever, revealed large differences between
cast-to sites on the one hand and Ti and
ceramic sites on the other. No qualitative
assessments of the soft tissue portion in
contact with the implants were made in
the study by Abrahamsson & Cardaropoli
(2007).
In the study by Abrahamsson et al.
(1998) referred to above, it was demon-
strated that soft tissue healing to a ceramic
abutment made of Al2O3 was similar to
that of c.p. titanium. This finding is inter-
esting in relation to observations made in
the present experiment. It should be
pointed out, however, that the ceramic
abutments used by Abrahamsson et al.
(1998) were aluminum based, while the
ceramic abutments in the current study
were made of ZrO2. Although the ceramic
material was different in the two studies,
soft tissue healing in terms of tissue dimen-
sions and composition in both studies was
similar to that at abutments made of tita-
nium. Corroborating data were presented
in an experimental study by Kohal et al.
(2004b). They analyzed soft and hard
tissues around implants made of either
titanium or zirconium in six monkeys.
Biopsies were obtained 9 months after im-
plant placement. It was reported that soft
tissue dimensions were similar at titanium
and zirconium implants.
In the present study, the relative volume
of infiltrating leukocytes in the barrier
epithelium was analyzed. The presence of
migrating polymorphonuclear leukocytes
and other inflammatory cells in the junc-
tional/barrier epithelium in the mucosa
surrounding implants or teeth is a result
from a microbial challenge in adjacent
sulcus areas. The assessment of leukocytes
in the barrier epithelium was applied in
previous experiments to evaluate differ-
ences in epithelial attachment to implant
abutments or tooth enamel (Berglundh
et al. 1989, 1992a, 1992b). Recently,
Welander et al. (2007) applied this techni-
que to compare epithelial attachment to
titanium implants with or without an
ultrathin collagen coating. It was reported
Fig. 5. (a) Buccal-lingual section of the peri-implant tissues at a cast-to abutment at 5 months of healing.
Original magnification � 25. (b) Detail given in (a) showing the barrier epithelium with a few infiltrating
leukocytes and the underlying connective tissue. Original magnification � 400. (c) Detail given in (a)
showing the connective tissue with large numbers of fibroblasts and leukocytes and few collagen fibers in the
abutment/connective tissue interface area. Original magnification � 400.
Table 4. Percentage of leukocytes residingin the barrier epithelium at 2 and 5 monthsof healing
2 months 5 months
Ti 6.7 (1.7) 4.5 (1.9)Ceramic 5.2 (1.4)n 3.5 (1.7)Cast-to 6.8 (2.4) 4.0 (1.4)
Mean values and standard deviations.nPo0.05 between ceramic and Ti and between
ceramic and cast-to at 2 months of healing.
Welander et al . The mucosal barrier at implant abutments of different materials
c� 2008 The Authors. Journal compilation c� 2008 Blackwell Munksgaard 639 | Clin. Oral Impl. Res. 19, 2008 / 635–641
that the density of leukocytes in the barrier
epithelium varied between 5% and 7% at
coated and uncoated implants after 4 and 8
weeks of healing. This result is consistent
with data presented in the present study.
Thus, at 2 months (8 weeks) of healing the
volume fraction occupied by leukocytes in
the barrier epithelium varied between
5.2% and 6.8%. In the specimens repre-
senting 5 months of healing, however, the
density of leukocytes in the epithelium had
decreased at all abutment types. The pro-
portion of leukocytes in the barrier epithe-
lium at ceramic (ZrO2) abutments was
smaller than that at Ti and cast-to abut-
ments. This observation indicates that the
ZrO2 material provided appropriate condi-
tions for epithelial attachment in the estab-
lishment of a proper mucosal seal. Another
explanation may be related to differences in
bacterial colonization on the abutment sur-
faces. Such a hypothesis was proposed by
Rimondini et al. (2002) and Scarano et al.
(2004). Rimondini et al. (2002) evaluated
microbial colonization on titanium and
zirconium discs in vitro and in vivo. While
only small differences were detected in
bacterial adherence between the two sur-
faces in the in vitro test, the results from
the in vivo model revealed that signifi-
cantly larger amounts of bacteria were
found on titanium than on zirconium discs.
Similar findings were reported by Scarano
et al. (2004). They analyzed the percentage
surface covered by bacteria on titanium and
zirconium discs. The discs were mounted
to removable acrylic devices that were
adapted to the premolar–molar regions of
10 subjects. Scanning electron microscopy
analysis of the discs that was performed
after 24 h revealed that the surface area
covered by plaque was significantly smaller
at zirconium than at titanium discs.
In summary, the present study demon-
strated that abutments made of titanium
and ZrO2 promoted proper conditions for
soft tissue healing, whereas abutments
made of Au/Pt-alloy failed to establish
appropriate soft tissue integration.
Acknowledgements: The present
study was supported by grants from
Astra Tech AB, Molndal, Sweden.
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