Ultrastructural changes of smooth and rough titanium implant surfaces induced by metal and plastic periodontal probes

OBJECTIVES: To determine the ultrastructural changes of titanium surfaces of dental implants induced by the tip of periodontal probes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 40 samples of smooth and rough surfaces of titanium implants were randomly assigned for the treatment with metal or plastic periodontal probes under application angles of 20° and 60°. Titanium surfaces have been evaluated with CLSM prior and following to experimental probing determining various standardized 2D and 3D roughness parameters. RESULTS: The average profile and surface roughness (Ra and Sa) showed no significant difference between treated and untreated samples on smooth and rough surface areas irrespective of the probe material. On smooth surfaces several amplitude roughness parameters were increased with metal probes but reached significance only for Rp (p = 0.007). Rough surface parts showed a slight but not significant reduction of roughness following to the contact with metal probes. The surface roughness remained almost unchanged on smooth and rough implant surfaces using plastic probes. The surface roughness on implant surfaces was not dependent on the application angle irrespective of the probe material. CONCLUSION: Probing of titanium implants with metal probes and even less with plastic probes causes only minor changes of the surface roughness. The clinical significance of these changes remains to be elucidated. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Using plastic probes for the clinical evaluation of the peri-implant sulcus might avoid ultrastructural changes to titanium implant surfaces.