Impact of surface roughness and wettability on microbial adhesion of temporary prostheses made by additive, subtractive, and conventional methods.

The rising use of 3D-printed temporary prostheses calls for a deeper understanding of microbial adhesion to these prostheses, a topic that remains insufficiently explored. This study evaluates the surface properties and microbial adhesion of four types of temporary materials manufactured by different methods: two conventionally produced materials-poly(ethyl methacrylate) (PEMA) and bis-acryl composite (BA)-and two digitally fabricated materials-poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA, CAD/CAM milled) and difunctional methacrylate resin (3Dresin, 3D printed). A total of 120 specimens (n = 30 per material) were prepared for surface roughness, contact angle, and microbial adhesion tests using Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus mutans, and Candida albicans. Additionally, 12 separate specimens (one per microorganism for each material) were prepared for scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis. The results revealed that BA and PEMA had higher contact angles than both PMMA and 3Dresin, with BA showing the highest surface roughness. S. aureus exhibited the highest adhesion across all materials. Surprisingly, 3Dresin, despite its low surface roughness, demonstrated the highest microbial adhesion. No statistically significant correlation was found between CFU counts and either surface roughness or contact angle. The study highlights that conventional materials are more hydrophobic than digitally produced ones, suggesting that 3Dresin materials may pose a higher risk of microbial colonization and biomaterial-associated infections.