EFFECT OF SANDBLASTING OF ZIRCONIA ABUTMENT ON SURFACE ROUGHNESS AND BACTERIAL ADHESION

Statement of problem. Factors associated with implant periodontal disease of zirconia restorations such as surface roughness remain largely unknown.
Purpose. The purpose of this study was to investigate how sandblasting abrasion before sintering affects roughness and bacterial adhesion on the surface of zirconia.
Material and methods. Thirty presintered zirconia specimens were divided into 6 groups of 5 after being polished with silicon carbide paper (1200 grit). A different surface treatment was applied to each group (no treatment [group Ct] and {A 30 µm, B 50 µm ,C 120 µm, D 175 µm and E 250 µm alumina particle size abrasion for 5 seconds]), and the specimens were then densely sintered. The mean centric linear roughness (Ra) was measured, and the 3D measurement of surface roughness (3D roughness) was determined. The number of colony forming units (CFUs) of Streptococcus mutans adhering to the surface was also examined. One-way ANOVA was used for data analysis (a=.05).
Results. Airborne-particle abrasion before sintering significantly increased surface roughness. Groups A, C, and E showed statistically significant higher CFU/mL than did group B (P<.05). No difference was found in CFU/mL between group Ct and B (P=.230).
Conclusions. Airborne-particle abrasion before sintering is a useful method of increasing the surface roughness of zirconia. Ra < 0.58 mm is necessary to inhibit the adherence of S. mutans to zirconia.