In-Vitro Study of the Contamination Remaining on Used Healing Abutments after Cleaning and Sterilizing in Dental Practice.

Background: Reuse or "recycle" of dental implant healing abutments in clinical practice is common, primarily for economic rational.

Purpose: To determine of this practice results in reuse of components that carry with them some degree of contamination between patients, even following thorough cleaning and sterilization.

Materials And Methods: One hundred healing abutments were collected from eight clinicians following patient use.