Surface properties correlated with the human gingival fibroblasts attachment on various materials for implant abutments: a multiple regression analysis.

To reveal the suitable surface condition of an implant abutment for fibroblast attachment, the correlation between the surface characteristics of various materials and the human gingival fibroblast (HGF-1) attachment to the surfaces were analyzed. Six kinds of surfaces comprised of machined titanium alloy (SM), machined Co-Cr-Mo alloy (CCM), titanium nitride coated titanium alloy (TiN), anodized titanium alloy (AO), composite resin coating on titanium alloy (R) and zirconia (Zr) were used. The measured surface parameters were Sa, Sq, Sz, Sdr, Sdq, Sal, Str and water contact angle (WCA). The HGF-1 cell attachment was investigated and the correlations were analyzed using a multiple regression analysis. The HGF-1 cell attachment was greater in the SM, TiN and Zr groups than the other groups and smallest in the CCM group (p = 0.0096). From the multiple regression analysis, the HGF-1 cell attachment was significantly correlated with Sdr, Sdq and WCA. When the R group was excluded, only WCA showed significant correlation with the fibroblast attachment. Within the limitations of this study, the cell attachment of human gingival fibroblasts was correlated with WCA, developed interfacial area ratio and surface slope. When the surfaces with Sa values of ∼ 0.2 μm or less were concerned, only WCA showed a correlation in a third order manner.