Adhesion of periodontal pathogens to materials used for long-term temporary crowns

Abstract

Provisional crowns are widely used in prosthodontic treatment in dentistry, and new materials for temporary crowns, including polyetheretherketone, have emerged, which have high-quality requirements for use in long-term temporary prosthetics. Of particular importance in prosthetics are the features of adhesion of pathogenic oral microflora to orthodontic structures. This study evaluated the adhesion of cariogenic and pathogenic periodontal bacterial flora and Candida species to unpolished and polished Dentokeep polyetheretherketone (PEEK), polished polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) material (Re-Fine Acrylic), and hot-curing acrylic plastic ‒ a powder-liquid type, where the powder is a suspension graft fluorine-containing copolymer, and the liquid is a mixture of acrylic monomers, and oligomers‒(Sinma-M) recommended for manufacturing long-term temporary crowns. The effect of polishing or un-polishing the study material on the adhesion of various microorganisms was studied. Polishing of Dentokeep PEEK significantly influenced primary adhesion. Microbial adhesion to sample materials was studied using ultrasonic cavitation. Adhesion of microorganisms to each material was categorized as low (0–0.27), moderate (0.28–0.69), or high (0.70–1). Streptococcus sanguinis, Prevotella intermedia, and Candida albicans adhered moderately to unpolished Dentokeep PEEK, whereas Porphyromonas gingivalis and Candida krusei were highly adherent. Candida species and P. intermedia pathogenic periodontal strain moderately adhered to polished Dentokeep PEEK, whereas S. sanguinis and P. gingivalis were highly adherent. Temporary crowns require additional hygienic measures to eradicate cariogenic (acidogenic), pathogenic periodontal, and fungal microbiota and maintain the normal qualitative and quantitative composition of oral microbiocenosis during prosthodontic treatment. In conclusion, PEEK is a promising material for the manufacture of long-term temporary crowns.