Bone-Miniscrew Contact and Surface Element Deposition on Orthodontic Miniscrews After Ultraviolet...

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Orthodontics
• Dental Implantology

Background:

• Surface modification of titanium dental implants is crucial for enhancing osseointegration.
• Ultraviolet (UV) photofunctionalization is a technique explored to improve the hydrophilic properties and biologic response of titanium surfaces.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of UV photofunctionalization on peri-implant osteogenesis around orthodontic miniscrews.
• To assess whether UV treatment enhances bone-miniscrew contact (BMSC) and alters surface element deposition.

Main Methods:

• A split-mouth study was conducted involving 17 patients where titanium orthodontic miniscrews were either UV photofunctionalized or left untreated before implantation.
• Bone-miniscrew contact was evaluated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and surface element analysis was performed using energy-dispersive x-ray spectrometry (EDX).

Main Results:

• UV photofunctionalization successfully converted the titanium surface from hydrophobic to superhydrophilic.
• While SEM showed slightly greater BMSC in the UV-treated group in the lower third, the difference was not statistically significant.
• EDX analysis revealed similar Ca/Ti and Ca/P ratios between UV-treated and untreated miniscrews.

Conclusions:

• UV photofunctionalization did not demonstrate a statistically significant enhancement of peri-implant osteogenesis in clinical application.
• The biologic potential of titanium orthodontic miniscrews was not significantly improved by UV photofunctionalization in this study.