Fibroblast Interaction with Different Abutment Surfaces: In Vitro Study

Background: Attaining an effective mucosal attachment to the transmucosal part of theimplant could protect the peri-implant bone. Aim: To evaluate if chair side surface treatments(plasma of Argon and ultraviolet light) may affect fibroblast adhesion on different titanium surfacesdesigned for soft tissue healing. Methods: Grade 5 titanium discs with four different surfacetopographies were subdivided into 3 groups: argon-plasma; ultraviolet light, and no treatment.Cell morphology and adhesion tests were performed at 20 min, 24 h, and 72 h. Results: Qualitativeobservation of the surfaces performed at the SEM was in accordance with the anticipated features.Roughness values ranged from smooth (MAC Sa = 0.2) to very rough (XA Sa = 21). At 20 min,all the untreated surfaces presented hemispherical cells with reduced filopodia, while the cells ontreated samples were more spread with broad lamellipodia. However, these differences in spreadingbehavior disappeared at 24 h and 72 h. Argon-plasma, but not UV, significantly increased the numberof fibroblasts independently of the surface type but only at 20 min. Statistically, there was no surfacein combination with a treatment that favored a greater cellular adhesion. Conclusions: Data showedpotential biological benefits of treating implant abutment surfaces with the plasma of argon in relationto early-stage cell adhesion.