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Updated: Jan 13, 2026
Oral Biofilm Formation on Different Materials for Dental Implants
Published on: June 24, 2018
Biofilm Formation on Various Implant Surface Modifications: An In-Vitro Comparative Study
Hussain Topiwala1, Sonam Dubey2, Bennete Fernandes3
1Dentistry, Index Institute of Dental, Indore, Madhya Pradesh, India.
Background:
Biofilm formation on dental implants plays a significant role in peri-implant infections, potentially leading to implant failure. Various surface modifications have been introduced to enhance osseointegration, but their role in biofilm resistance remains unclear.
Methods:
A total of 40 titanium discs (10 per surface group) were used. Each disc was inoculated with bacterial suspensions and incubated anaerobically for 48 h. Biofilm formation was assessed using crystal violet staining for biomass quantification (Optical Density [OD] at 595 nm) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) for structural evaluation. Data were analyzed using one-way analysis of variance with Tukey's post-hoc test.
Results:
The mean OD values for biofilm biomass were significantly different across groups: machined (1.62 ± 0.18), sandblasted and acid-etched (SLA) (1.31 ± 0.14), anodized (0.89 ± 0.11), and laser-treated (0.72 ± 0.09). Laser-treated surfaces showed the lowest biofilm formation (P < 0.001). SEM analysis confirmed dense and multilayered biofilms on machined surfaces, while laser-treated discs demonstrated sparsely, disrupted bacterial clusters.
Conclusion:
Surface modifications significantly influence biofilm formation. Laser-treated and anodized titanium surfaces exhibit superior resistance to biofilm development compared to conventional machined and SLA surfaces. These findings may inform implant design strategies to reduce microbial colonization and enhance long-term clinical outcomes.
