Microstructural analysis of the surface of implants removed in connection with periimplantitis

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The practice of prosthetics on implants shows a fairly high percentage of removed implants over the specified period. The reasons can be both insufficient hygiene of the tissues around the implants and their overload. Regardless of the cause, bone resorption occurs from the apex of the alveolar ridge (part) of the jaw deep into contact with the implant in combination with chronic inflammation of the periimplant soft tissues. Removal of the implant in such cases is indicated for bone resorption at half the length of the implant. Microstructural analysis of the surface of implants is rarely reflected in publications, since high-resolution microscopy is only possible for removed implants.
 AIM: Microscopy and spectrometry of the surface of implants removed for periimplantitis.
 MATERIALS AND METHODS: The surface analysis of the five implants removed due to periimplantitis was carried out by scanning electron microscopy in high vacuum mode with electron probe microprobe analysis of the elemental composition. A FEI Teneo VolumeScope single-beam scanning electron microscope with a detector was used to perform XFlash 6/30 energy dispersive analysis. The research was carried out in the Skolkovo Technopark.
 RESULTS: The performed microscopic and spectrometric analysis, accompanied by micrographs and spectrograms of the cervical part of the implant in the area of bone tissue conservation, the presence of connective tissue and in the area of the exposed surface of the implant, demonstrate the process of disintegration of the implant due to periimplantitis, which consists in demineralization and resorption of bone tissue (in places up to the surface of the implant, in places with through defects to the surface of the implant) and its replacement with connective tissue.
 CONCLUSIONS: Disintegration of the implant due to periimplantitis is accompanied by the process of demineralization and resorption of bone tissue (in places up to the surface of the implant, in places with through defects to the surface of the implant) and its replacement with connective tissue.