Effects of Titanium Curette, Air Polishing and Titanium Brush on Implant Surface Roughness Using Scanning Probe Microscopy

Background: In peri-implant mucositis and peri-implantitis, inflammation extends to peri-implant tissue, which is associated with bone loss and can cause implant failure. To regain peri-implant tissue health, debridement and cleaning of implant surface without damaging it must be performed prior to any other treatment. Thus, this study aimed to assess the effect of titanium curette, air polishing and titanium brush on implant surface roughness. Methods: In this in vitro, experimental study, 2 SNUC titanium implants with 6 mm diameter and 10 mm length were sectioned into 10 pieces. Implant pieces were randomly divided into 4 groups (n=5) for polishing with titanium curette, air polishing, titanium brush and no intervention (control group). Surface roughness was determined under a scanning probe microscope (SPM) by measuring Ra and Rz parameters. Data was analyzed using Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney tests at significance level (α) of 0.05. Results: Ra and Rz values of the four groups were not significantly different (P=0.002). Air polishing group showed the lowest surface roughness and titanium curette group showed the highest surface roughness followed by titanium brush group, compared to control group. Conclusions: Air polishing group showed the lowest surface roughness compared to control group but an appropriate debridement technique should be chosen based on the treatment chosen for periimplantitis.