Figure 3

SEM images of the condition of the titanium surface. (a) Infected by S. mutans for 48 h. (b) Infected by S. mutans followed by Ag(+)L(+) treatment without ultrasound scaling. (c) Infected by S. mutans followed by Ag(+)L(−) treatment after ultrasound scaling. (d) Infected by S. mutans followed by Ag(+)L(+) treatment after ultrasound scaling. (e) Infected by A. actinomycetemcomitans for 48 h. (f) Infected by A. actinomycetemcomitans followed by Ag(+)L(−) treatment without ultrasound scaling. (g) Infected by A. actinomycetemcomitans followed by Ag(+)L(−) treatment after ultrasound scaling. (h) infected by A. actinomycetemcomitans followed by Ag(+)L(+) treatment after ultrasound scaling. (i) Sandblasted and acid-etched with no infection by bacteria.