Influence of saliva interaction on surface properties manufactured for rapid osseointegration in dental implants

Abstract

Surface treatments are designed to promote modified implant surfaces with positive interactions with the surrounding living tissues. However, the inadvertent early contact of these surfaces with oral fluids during surgery may lead to undesired conditions affecting osseointegration. This study aimed to investigate the possible alterations in the physico-chemical properties of modified-surfaces caused by early saliva exposure. Titanium (Ti) surfaces were exposed to three different samples of human saliva and later analyzed for protein adhesion, physico-chemical surface alterations, and osteogenic cell-viability. The results indicated that surface roughness was the most significant factor influencing saliva protein adsorption; moreover, hydrophilic surfaces had critically lost their characteristics after contact with saliva. Decreased cell viability was observed in cultures after contact with saliva. Early contact with saliva might negatively influence modified surface properties and local cell viability. Careful surgical insertion of implants with hydrophilic surfaces is recommended, particularly in sites where saliva interaction is prone to occur.

Keywords:

• Saliva protein
• hydrophilicity
• roughness
• wettability
• osseointegration
• dental surfaces

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

MFK acknowledges the support of the Brazilian National Council of Research and Development (CNPq) - Research Grant Number: 140903/2016-0. Thanks are also due to FCT/MCTES and UCP for the CEEC institutional funding of RMS and the project UID/MULTI/4279/2019 to CIIS. Moreover, technical support in XRD analyses by André L. M. Vargas is highly appreciated. MFK is grateful also for the support provided by SalivatecLab (CIIS) during his research internship in Viseu-Portugal.