Investigation of surface element properties in explanted implants due to peri-implantitis: An in vitro study

Background and aim: osteointegration is the connection between alveolar bone and implant surface. after peri-implant diseases, the surface structure is changed, but the surface properties of the dental implant are crucial in re-osseointegration. this study aimed to examine the surface element levels of explanted implants due to peri-implantitis by scanning electron microscopy/energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy analysis (sem-edx). methods: ten explanted sandblasted, large grit, acid-etched (sla) surface dental implants (straumann roxolid, straumann gmbh, freiburg, germany) were used for the study. explanted implants were washed with distilled water/air spray to purify blood and debris, dried with air spray, and waited for test time at room temperature. explanted implants were examined using a sem. the samples were not coated with gold, and images were taken at 115x and 8000x. sem-edx was performed at three-point for each sample to analyze relative concentration or weight percent (wt%) of carbon (c), oxygen (o), sodium (na), aluminum (al), titanium (ti), and zirconium (zr) with same sem. results: in the explanted implants, osseointegrated bone (0.1-0.5 mm wide) residues were observed in places, especially in the apical region. regarding metal-to-metal labeling on the surfaces of dismantled implants, no findings such as surface scratches, fractures, and cracks were found. in explanted implants, the amount of c was relatively higher, while the amount of ti was relatively lower. conclusion: within the limitation of this study, it can be said that the c amount is high, and the amount of ti is low in explanted implants relatively. further research is needed to understand the effect of surface elements on re-osseointegration, where the number of samples is high.