Antimicrobial Effects on Implant Surface Wettability Changes. an in-Vitro Study.

Objectives: The goal of this in-vitro study was to determine the impact of antimicrobial disinfecting agents based on Chlorhexidine (CHX) or herbal extracts on the wettability of different implant surfaces.
Methods: Three implant surfaces in form of disks (Titanium-SLA, Zirconia/SDS, and Titanium Alloy) were used. Each implant surface was disinfected by three different groups of liquids: group 1 (CHX, Peridex®; 0.12%) and group 2 (herbal extract, StellaLife® with peppermint flavor). Control disks were treated by saline solution (group 3). Wettability measurements (20 per liquid) were utilized for evaluation of the implant surface hydrophilicity using a goniometer (Ossila). A calibrated micro syringe was used to dispense 7.5 microliters at the center of the disk (n=180). Comparative statistical analysis with ANOVA and Bonferroni correction at the p<0.05 level was performed.
Results: In group 1, the contact angles were: SLA 52.0°±3.95, titanium alloy 57.5° ± 5.51, SDS 50.6° ± 4.14; in group 2, SLA 46.9° ± 4.50, titanium alloy 58.7° ± 5.97, SDS 51.5°±3.20; and in group 3, SLA 86.3° ±3.89, titanium alloy 83.3°±4.14, SDS 74.5°±2.98. The Bonferroni posthoc comparison revealed that there was a statistically significant difference with improved wettability for group 2 compared to groups 1 and 3 (p < 0.05) for rough surfaced SLA implant surfaces.
Conclusions: Rough surfaced implants can have an improved wettability utilizing disinfection with herbal extract antimicrobial agents.