EFFECT OF LAB PROCEDURES AND ULTRASONIC-BATH CLEANING ON CUSTOMIZED IMPLANT ABUTMENT POLLUTION: AN IN VITRO STUDY.

PURPOSE: To validate the effectiveness of a simplified ultrasonic cleaning protocol to clean customized abutments, and to investigate the percentage of pollutants on customized abutments provided by the implant company and the additional effect of dental laboratory manipulations. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 24 customized abutments were divided in two groups, 12 returning from the implant company and 12 others returning from the dental laboratory. In each group, there were 6 zirconia (Zr02) abutments and 6 .tanium (Ti) abutments. For each condition, half of the samples were cleaned with the experimental protocol, and the others were left as delivered by the company. The two-step cleaning protocol consisted of mechanical treatment with a sterile compress soaked in a detergent over the transgingival part of the abutment, followed by three successive ultrasound baths for two minutes/bath. The presence of pollutants was quantified using scanning electron microscopy. RESULTS: The suggested cleaning method allowed to significantly decrease the quantity of pollutants (P = .0006). The abutments returning from the dental laboratory were significantly more polluted than those coming directly from the implant company (P = .0043). The cleaning effect was highly significant in both groups (P < .0001). The quantity of pollutants before cleaning were similar in the titanium and in the zirconia groups and the cleaning effect was highly significant in both groups (P = .0009). CONCLUSIONS: The cleaning protocol tested was successful on the customized abutments from each group.