Abstract
PURPOSE: To investigate the impact of common dental hygiene practices, including brushing with fluoridated toothpaste, on titanium implant surfaces with varying degrees of roughness, both in the presence and absence of citric acid. METHODS: Titanium (Ti) disks with varying surface roughness (smooth and moderately rough, n = 80) were divided into two groups. Different treatments were applied to each group: control (no treatment, SC, RC), citric acid exposure (S1, R1), citric acid exposure followed by brushing (S2, R2), and citric acid exposure followed by brushing with fluoridated toothpaste (S3, R3). Surface roughness (Ra) was measured using a stylus profilometer and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to examine surface morphology and potential damage. ANOVA associated with the Tukey's tests were used to compare Ra between the groups. RESULTS: Smooth Ti surfaces exhibited minimal changes in roughness following various treatments, including citric acid exposure, brushing, and fluoride treatment, with % of change in Ra ranging from 0.43 to 7.1% compared to the control. However, SEM analysis revealed surface alterations such as chipping and scratching. In contrast, rough Ti surfaces showed significant increases in roughness after treatments, with the combination of citric acid and brushing (R1 and R2) causing the most pronounced effects with a 48.8% change in Ra compared to the control. Fluoride treatment may have mitigated these effects to some extent. CONCLUSIONS: The common dental hygiene practices, such as brushing with fluoridated toothpaste and exposure to acidic substances, can significantly impact the surface topography of Ti implants, particularly those with rough surfaces.