OBJECTIVEThe objective of this study was to investigate the tarnish induced by Streptococcus sobrinus serotype g on Co-Cr, Ni-Cr and casting titanium alloys.

METHODSCo-Cr, Ni-Co and casting titanium alloys were respectively machined into a size of 10 mm x 10 mm x 1 mm in tablets, and totally 90 specimens with 30 of each were prepared for the test. The 30 specimens of each alloy were randomly and equally divided into three subgroups, including the blank control group, the media control group and the inoculated media group. Under the aerobic condition, the surfaces of the sucrose agar media were inoculated with Streptococcus sobrinus serotype g. The labeled sterile specimens were placed on the surface of the media for 10 weeks. The specimens were changed to a new sucrose media with bacteria each week. The specimens were removed after 10 weeks of incubation, immersed in 0.05% glutaraldehyde solution to eliminate AaY4, rinsed with distilled water. After 2 weeks, the specimens were removed and observed visually or examined by MINOLTA CR-100 color apparatus.

RESULTSCompared with the blank control, the control media without bacteria did not influence the alloy specimens (P > 0.05). Streptococcus sobrinus serotype g caused tarnish on specimens. There was significant difference between the control media group and the blank control group with inoculated media group on all the specimens (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONStreptococcus sobrinus serotype g affects the color of Co-Cr, Ni-Cr and casting titanium alloys, but the color does not change from yellow-green range to red-yellow range.