Surface characterization of the cement for retention of implant supported dental prostheses: In vitro evaluation of cement roughness and surface free energy

- Surface free energy and surface roughness influence bacterial adhesion.
- Bacterial colonization causes periimplantitis and implant loss.
- Zinc-based, glass-ionomers and resin-cements were investigated.
- Glass-ionomers-cements present the lowest values of surface free energy and roughness.
- Glass-ionomer-cements surface properties result with reduced bacterial adhesion.

BackgroundMaterial surface free energy and surface roughness strongly influence the bacterial adhesion in oral cavity. The aim of this study was to analyze these two parameters in various commercial luting agents used for cementation of implant restorations.Materials and methodsZinc-based, glass-ionomers, resin modified glass-ionomer and resin-cements were investigated. Contact angle and surface free energy were measured by contact angle analyzer using Image J software program. Materials' average roughness and fractal dimension were calculated based on Atomic Force Microscope topography images.ResultsZinc phosphate cements presented significantly higher total surface free energy and significantly lower dispersive component of surface free energy compared to other groups, while resin-cements showed significantly lower polar component than other groups. The surface roughness and fractal dimension values were statistically the highest in the zinc phosphate cements and the lowest for the glass-ionomers cements.ConclusionGlass-ionomers-cements presented lower values of surface free energy and surface roughness than zinc phosphate and resin cements, indicating that their surfaces are less prone to biofilm adhesion.Practical implicationsWithin limitations of an in vitro trial, our results indicate that glass-ionomers-cements could be the cements of choice for fixation of cement retained implant restorations due to superior surface properties compared to zinc phosphate and resin cements, which may result in reduced plaque formation and presumably prevent periimplant infection.