ANÁLISE MICROBIOLÓGICA DA CAVIDADE INTERNA DE IMPLANTES DENTAIS OSSEOINTEGRADOS
microbiology; biofilm; colonization; dental implants; checkerboard DNA-DNA hybridization.
Objectives: Infiltration of organic fluids and microorganisms at the abutment/implant interface may result in bacterial infection of the peri-implant tissues. Internal colonization of periodontal pathogens may be originated by bacteria trapped during installation or by penetration of abutment/implant leakage. The aim of this study was to detect periodontal pathogens in the internal area of the dental implants before loading. Materials and Methods: Biofilm samples of the internal surface of 100 implants distributed in 41 subjects were taken and analyzed for the presence of 40 microorganisms by checkerboard DNA-DNA hybridization, prior to installation of healing or any other prosthetic abutment. Results: Twenty-four patients (58.5%) had some bacteria detected in any level, distributed in 49 implants (49%). Fifty-one percent of implants didn´t show any contamination. L. buccalis, C. sputigena and S. oralis were the most frequently detected species. Spontaneous early implant exposure to oral cavity during the osseointegration phase was not statistically significant (P>0.05) to increase bacterial prevalence, but mandible implants had higher bacterial prevalence than maxillary ones (P<0.05). Conclusions: The internal surface of dental implants can serve as a reservoir of periodontal pathogens to the future implant/abutment interface, which could finish with a peri-implantitis process.