Micro-morphometric assessment of titanium plasma-sprayed coating removal using burs for the treatment of peri-implant disease

This study evaluated, in vitro, the effectiveness of diamond and carbide bu rs, and bur sequences to remove the plasma-sprayed titanium coating from IM Z fixture surfaces. Fifteen polishing procedures were tested. They included the use of 12, 16, 30 bladed carbide burs or bevered carbide burs and 30, 15, 8 mu m mean-particles-size diamond burs. The treated surfaces were eval uated with profilometer and SEM. Worn burs and titanium debris produced by the grinding were observed with SEM. All procedures produce smoother surfac es than baseline plasma-sprayed surfaces for both Ra and Rz(DIN) parameters (P<0.001). A roughening effect of the 8 mu m mean-grit diamond bur and 30 bladed burs were noted. The single carbide burs produce polished surfaces a ffected by waviness. Waviness was minimized by sequence or diamond bur use. The carbide bur blades were variously damaged after their use. In contrast , the grit of diamond burs was observed to be clogged by titanium debris wh ose amount seemed to be inversely related to the diamond mean particle size . Debris produced by diamond burs was granular whereas that produced by car bide bladed burs showed needle or flake morphology. In conclusion, the most effective titanium plasma sprayed removal were obtained by 30 mu m and 15 mu m mean-particle-size diamond burs, i.e. 30 mu m plus 15 mu m diamond bur s and carbide 12 plus 16 bladed burs used in sequence.