Is it safe to reuse dental implant healing abutments sterilized and serviced by dealers of dental implant manufacturers? An in vitro sterility analysis

Abstract

Purpose: This study was undertaken to investigate the sterility of used healing abutments sterilized and serviced by dealers of dental implant manufacturers. Materials and Methods: Sixty used but sterilized healing abutments in sealed sterilization pouches were obtained from 6 manufacturers unaware of the study design and equally grouped from A to F. The sterilization pouches were examined for perforation. The driver slots and screw grooves of healing abutments were examined for calculus and scratches under a 35 LED magnifying lamp, without opening the pouches. Each abutment was immersed in brain heart infusion broth in test tubes and incubated. Results: Macroscopic observation of 57 healing abutments revealed dirty screw grooves (10.5%) and partially filled driver slots (5.2%). None of the group C, E, and F samples showed turbidity. Penicillium variabile was morphologically identified in 3 abutments of group A. Enterococcus faecalis and E faecium were detected in 1 abutment each of groups B and D, respectively. Conclusion: Reuse of healing abutments can be cost effective in dental practice. However, used abutments sterilized and serviced by dental implant dealers might be a source of cross-infection. They should therefore be cleaned and resterilized before reuse as a precaution.