Effect of implant curets on titanium implant surfaces.

PURPOSE

To compare the surface roughness produced by various implant curets on titanium implant abutment surfaces.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Each of six titanium implants was divided into four quadrants, three experimental and an untreated control surface. The three experimental surfaces were instrumented with a gold platinum curet, an unreinforced resin curet, or a reinforced resin curet. Two implants were assigned to each of the following treatments: 128, 256 or 512 scaling strokes within a 4 mm wide area. Photographs were taken of the surfaces with a scanning electron microscope at approximately x500 magnification and classified by six investigators according to surface roughness.

RESULTS

The surfaces were different at 8 and 16 years with P < 0.01 and P < 0.0005, respectively. At 8 years, the surface roughness was significant between the treatments in the following ascending order: untreated, unreinforced resin curet, reinforced resin curet and gold platinum curet. Significant roughness was observed for surfaces treated by only the gold platinum curet and the reinforced resin curet at 16 years. The gold platinum curet created the roughest surface P < 0.0006.