ORIGINAL ARTICLE

 

Streptococcus mutans adhesion and releasing of metallic ions in dental alloys

 

 

Adriana Cristina Zavanelli^I; Ricardo Alexandre Zavanelli^II; José Vitor Quinelli Mazaro^I; Rosse Mary Falcón-Antenucci^I

 

^I Universidade Estadual Paulista – UNESP, Araçatuba Dental School, Department of Dental Materials and Prosthodontics, Araçatuba, SP, Brazil
^II Universidade Federal de Goiás – UFG, Dental School, Department of Oral Rehabilitation, Goiania, GO, Brazil

Correspondence

 

 

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ABSTRACT

Aim: To evaluate the adherence of Streptococcus mutans to the surface of the amalgam and copper/aluminum alloy samples and also evaluate the release of metallic ions. Methods: The prepared medium was changed every 72 h and analyzed by atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Samples were removed from the prepared medium at 15, 30, 48 and 60 days. Results: The result shows that ions released were statistically different among all groups, and so were both biofilm and pits formation and the corrosion induced by the S. mutans in both types of samples. SEM observation of the samples immersed in the prepared medium with S. mutans showed adherence of microorganisms on the whole surface, in all groups. Conclusions: The S. mutans adhere to both amalgam and copper/aluminum alloy causing corrosion of those restorations. S. mutans produced a greater ions release in Cu/Al alloy; in amalgam, the ions release was not influenced by exposure to S. mutans.

Keywords: dental alloys; corrosion; ions.

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Introduction

Biocorrosion in dentistry is the classic electrochemical corrosion induced by the biofilm¹, which is a complex aggregation of microorganisms growing on a solid substrate². Dental biofilm also known as dental plaque is usually disastrous. It colonizes and also contaminates not only dental surfaces but also restorations, metallic surfaces of prostheses and implants^3-5, causing corrosion in pits, in a similar way as demineralized areas and decalcified cavities on tooth enamel.

Although metal-free restorations are more popular nowadays, metal restorations such as amalgam and copper/aluminum alloy are still being used widely at universities, national health services and some practices all over the world^6-8. Copper/aluminum alloy and amalgam restorations still face the problem of corrosion resulting in dissatisfied patients regarding the aesthetics and also in the longevity of those restorations. Doubts still remain regarding the deleterious effects on the properties of the metallic surfaces of these alloys and their resistance to corrosion^9-10. It is known that restoring materials should be resistant to corrosion to avoid biological effects caused by it and also to avoid jeopardy to esthetics^3,10-12.

However, in oral environment, these restorations are exposed to certain conditions directly related to ions release, such as pH reduction¹³ caused by Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans) after liquids and food intake¹⁴. The exposure of alloys to pH reduction intensifies metallic ions bleaching to tissues of surrounding oral mucosa^10,14 and more pronounced in nickel alloys^10,13-14.

According to Wataha et al.¹⁵ the metallic ions released from alloys can be toxic, cause inflammatory, allergenic and mutagenic reactions and can also irritate adjacent tissues.

However, the toxicity of metal-ceramic alloys depends on quantity and quality of the metallic ions released, possible synergistic or antagonist effects, and the time they remain in contact with organic tissues^9,16-17.

The challenge now is to focus on this association in trying to prevent the colonization by the microorganisms and consequent corrosion. Hence, the aim of this in vitro study was to evaluate the adherence of S. mutans to the surface of the amalgam and copper/aluminum alloy samples and also the release of metallic ions such as copper, nickel, iron, zinc, silver, manganese, tin, aluminum and mercury on those samples when colonized by S. mutans.

 

Material and methods

Sample preparation

Amalgam Velvalloy samples (S. S. White S.A., Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil) were prepared in accordance to the manufacturer's recommendations, triturated in the Silamat amalgamator (Silamat S6, Ivoclar Vivadent Inc., Amherst, NY, USA) and hand-condensed into a circular stainless steel matrix (12 mm x 3 mm). Excesses were removed and burnished 5 min after condensation. After 25 min, samples were removed and stored in oven at 37 oC with 100% relative humidity for 24h.

Four samples were produced for each studied material. Two samples were prepared for the observation of biofilm formation and the other two for the observation of pit formation. They were then divided into the following groups: Group I - burnished, sterilized in ethylene oxide gas camera (SERCON - MP 3000 HG, São Paulo, SP, Brazil) and immersed in the prepared medium with S. mutans; Group II - burnished, sterilized and immersed in the prepared medium without S. mutans; Group III – metallographic polishing, sterilized and immersed in the prepared medium with S. mutans; and Group IV - metallographic polishing, sterilized and immersed in the prepared medium without S. mutans.

Copper/aluminum alloy samples (Duracast MS, São Paulo, SP, Brazil) were obtained by the lost wax technique using the same matrix mentioned above. They were divided into the following groups: Group V - polished with abrasive roads, sterilized and immersed in the prepared medium with S. mutans; Group VI - polished with abrasive roads, sterilized and immersed in the prepared medium without S. mutans; Group VII – metallographic polishing, sterilized and immersed in the prepared medium with S. mutans; and Group VIII – metallographic polishing, sterilized and immersed in the prepared medium without S. mutans.

Induction of biocorrosion

Samples were aseptically immersed in polystyrene conical tubes (Falcon - 50.0 mL) containing 15.0 mL of prepared medium and MiLi-Q water (Millipore, Billerica, MA, USA), in accordance to the manufacturer's specifications. The prepared medium used was the Mueller-Hinton Broth (Difco Laboratories Inc, Detroit, MI, USA - lot 27006) with 5.0% sucrose (Reagen lot 961038) and 200 ìL (106 microorganisms/ mL) S. mutans. The control samples were immersed in the same prepared medium without S. mutans.

Samples were then autoclaved for 15 min at 121 oC. Tubes were incubated at 37 oC, in the orbital agitator (Marconi, Piracicaba, SP, Brazil) with constant agitation of 100 rpm for 60 days. The prepared medium was changed every 72 h, for 60 days and reserved for analysis in the atomic absorption spectrophotometer (AAS) (Shimadzu Corporation, Kyoto, Japan) to detect the metallic ions release. All the samples were removed from prepared medium on the 15th, 30th, 48th and 60th day, and observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) (JSM 5410; JEOL, Tokyo, Japan).

Preparation of specimens to SEM

Two samples were immersed in EDTA 10% (Merck, Darmstadt, Germany) during 24 h to confirm the absence of biofilm. The other two samples were immersed in α glutaraldehyde 3.0% to confirm the presence of biofilm.

Samples were washed in sterilized distilled water and fixed in á glutaraldehyde 3.0% sodium cacodylate 0.1 M, 5oC, pH 7,4 for 12 h. They were then postfixed in osmium tetroxide 2.0%, 5 oC for 4 h, dehydrated for 15 min in increasing percentages of alcohol 15, 30, 50, 75, 95 and 100% and dried in the critical point dryer using CO2 (Denton vacuum – Desk II, Japan) before SEM analysis.

Qualitative and quantitative analysis of metals

A solution containing 1.0 mL of prepared medium and 9.0 mL MiLi-Q water was used for the AAS analysis. The reading of the diluted prepared medium was analyzed using standard titrisol (Merck).

The experimental model chosen in this study was described by Pizzolitto et al.18. MiLi-Q water was used to avoid metallic ions in the prepared medium or even during cleaning of the material.

 

Results

The result shows both biofilm and pits formation and the corrosion induced by the S. mutans in both amalgam and copper/aluminum samples. Metallic ion concentrations released from metal alloys are shown in Figures 1a to 1f. The highest levels of metal concentration released at 60 days: copper (approx. 80 μg/mL) from Group V, zinc (approx. 4.5 μg /mL) from Groups II and I and nickel (approx. 4.5 μg / mL) from Group VII.

Table 1 and 2 show the statistical analysis. Aluminum, tin and mercury were not detected in the study due to the sensibility of the method. The results for Cu/Al alloy (Table 1) showed statistically significant difference (p>0.05) between control and experimental groups. The highest values were observed in experimental group, especially in Cu and Ni ions, respectively. The results of amalgam(Table 2) ions release showed no statistically significant difference for silver and nickel ions. The experimental group with metallographic polishing exhibited statistically significant difference (p>0.05) in comparison with the burnished experimental group.

 

 

 

Figures 2a to 2f show the SEM analysis of the surface of the samples immersed in prepared medium either with or without microorganism (control group). SEM observation of the samples immersed in the prepared medium with S. mutans showed adherence of microorganisms on the whole surface of both amalgam and copper/aluminum alloy in all groups. The release of metallic ions did not inhibit the growth of microorganisms.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Discussion

The alloy surfaces presented microorganisms' adherence and ions release was influenced by S. mutans, but only for Cu/Al alloy. Despite the many studies reporting adherence of Streptococcus mutans on the surface of dental alloys^{5,9-10,13,15,17}, this study has proved that even release of metal ions with the samples incubated in constant agitation, there was adherence and development of the colonies. In other studies that did not use those conditions, the samples remained in the resting tube.

SEM results showed that the exposure to S. mutans caused microorganisms adherence on the surface of both specimens. This fact, along with the presence of gaps on the surface, makes alloys more susceptible to corrosion, and the low corrosion resistance may lead to greater ions release¹⁹. McGinley et al.¹⁴ verified S. mutans corrosive effect on metallic alloy disks. Corrosion is always a concern not only regarding the esthetic, but also the longevity of restorations and the possibility of causing severe allergic reaction^20-21.

The atomic absorption spectrophotometer indicated that the values of ions release for Cu/Al alloy were significantly affected by exposure to S. mutans. This was also observed by the study of McGinley et al.¹⁴ who assessed the influence of S. mutans on dental alloys' toxicity and observed that ions release significantly increased in the presence of these bacteria, as it leads to pH reduction. On the other hand, Mutlu- Sagesen et al.²² stated that pH reduction is directly related to the great ions release by dental alloys.

The Cu/Al alloy released copper, iron, manganese, zinc and nickel ions, but copper presented the highest ions release. Benatti et al.²³ showed that Cu and Ni alloys exhibit high in vitro corrosion as well as in oral cavity, mainly in areas of difficult hygiene. The ions released by amalgam were silver, zinc and nickel. However, there was no statistically significant difference between control and experimental group. Zinc ion (with S. mutans ) presented lower release in group with metallographic polishing, perhaps due to the formation of a stable passivating layer in more polished surfaces (smoother).

Ions release can potentially alter the oral tissues' biological response in contact with dental alloys. Special attention should be given regarding the release of metallic ions in patients that presents metal allergies. The challenge now is to focus on the nature of this intimate association and try to prevent the colonization by the microorganisms and consequent corrosion.

Within the limitations of this study, the following conclusions were drawn: S. mutans adhere to both amalgam and copper/aluminum alloy causing corrosion of those restorations; S. mutans produced higher ions release in Cu/ Al alloy. The amalgam ions release was not influenced by exposure to S. mutans.

 

Acknowledgements

The authors thank Heitor Panzeri and Izabel Yoko Ito (in memoriam) for their contributions to this study.

 

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Correspondence:
Adriana Cristina Zavanelli.
Rua José Bonifácio, 1193 – Vila Mendonça
CEP 16015-050 Araçatuba, São Paulo, Brasil
E-mail: zavanelliac@foa.unesp.br

 

 

Received for publication: December 12, 2014
Accepted: March 06, 2015