The Forgotten Voices of Healing
Microbial and Enzymatic Dialogues in Implant and Orthodontic Success
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5195/d3000.2026.1448Keywords:
Dental Implants, Orthodontics, Biofilm, Microbes, OsseointegrationAbstract
We examined the microbial and enzymatic interplay affecting the success of implant and orthodontic treatment with a focal point on the dynamics of biofilms, inflammatory enzymes, corrosion-related degradation, and tissue healing reaction. The mixed design of the study consisted of an experiment and an analysis. Under controlled lab conditions, titanium implant discs and orthodontic wire were subjected to polymicrobial biofilms of Streptococcus mutans, Porphyromonas gingivalis, and Lactobacillus acidophilus. Enzymatic exposure was simulated with the use of collagenase, esterase and protease solutions that represented oral enzyme activity. Surface roughness, corrosion, microbial colonization and ion release, and expression of inflammatory markers were evaluated by use of scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), colony-forming unit (CFU) and ELISA assays. The SPSS version 26 with repeated-measures ANOVA and Bonferonni post-hoc tests were involved in statistical analysis. There was a considerable growth of biofilm biomasses and surface roughness after a concerted exposure to microbes and enzymes (p < 0.05). The surfaces of Titanium implants showed moderate resistance to corrosion in comparison with orthodontic stainless-steel wires, which showed high ion releases and surfaces corrosion. High microbial colonization was linked to high levels of inflammatory biomarkers, such as interleukin-1B and tumor necrosis factor-alpha. Integrated enzyme and microbial exposure had a great effect of lowering compromising implant surface integrity and augmented orthodontic wire surface anomalies. The biological processes of the interaction of microbes and enzymes are core in determining the stability of implant and orthodontic biomaterials. The biological communication involving oral microorganisms, inflammatory mediators and biomaterial surfaces has a direct influence on the success or failure of treatment. A combination of antimicrobial strategies, the latest biomaterials, and surface modification technologies could become an enhancement of long-term treatment.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Zaid Mustafa Akram, Abdulrahman Zaid Al-Najjar, Tamarah Mazin Mohammed Ameen, Haydar Munir Salih, Faehaa Azhar Al-Mashhadane
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