Transdental implantation is an effective way to restore the lost biomechanical properties of a resected or amputated tooth. The choice of structural materials for the implant is the most important stage of treatment, in relation to the adhesion of aggressive microbiota to them. To characterize the adhesion of microorganisms of periodontopathogenic and cariogenic groups in vitro to experimental samples of zirconium dioxide and titanium alloys using cultural and electronic microscopic methods of adhesion evaluation as the first stage of biofilm formation. Samples for the experiment were prepared in the form of a tablet of standard form, on which the test strains were applied in an amount of 106CFU/ml. After shaking the unattached cells with ultrasound, they were seeded into dense nutrient medium to determine their number. In total, 14 strains of perodontopathogenic and cariogenic groups (including 3 reference strains) were used in the experiment. Scanning electron microscopy was used to visualize the adhesion of microorganisms. The results of the adhesion test to titanium nickelide and zirconium dioxide showed a significant reduction in adhesion for all microorganism species. In all variants (with all strains) the adhesion values to titanium nickelide and zirconium dioxide were statistically significantly lower than when using samples from a traditional titanium alloy. In scanning electron microscopy, single cells of test strains of perodontopathogenic microorganisms were determined on zirconium dioxide samples, while a considerable number of cells and the initial phase of biofilm formation were observed on the compared structural materials. Zirconium dioxide can be considered as an optimal choice material for the manufacture of transdental implants, which, in terms of its technological characteristics and low adhesion characteristics of microbes, is superior to the traditionally used titanium alloys.
Keywords: adhesion of microorganisms; biofilm; chronic apical periodontitis; scanning electron microscopy; titanium nickelide; transdental implantation; zirconium dioxide.