Çakan, UmutDelilbaşı, ÇağrıEr, SevdaKıvanç, Merih10.07.20192019-07-1010.07.20192019-07-102015Çakan, U., Delilbaşı, Ç., Er, S. ve Kıvanç, M. (2015). Is it safe to reuse dental implant healing abutments sterilized and serviced by dealers of dental implant manufacturers? An in vitro sterility analysis. Implant Dentistry, 24(2), 174-179. https://dx.doi.org/10.1097/ID.00000000000001981056-6163https://dx.doi.org/10.1097/ID.0000000000000198https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12511/2684WOS: 000351916700008PubMed ID: 25706262Purpose: 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.eninfo:eu-repo/semantics/embargoedAccessHealing AbutmentSterilizationDental ImplantEnterococciReuseArticle24217417910.1097/ID.0000000000000198Q3Q2