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Cementing innovation: High-energy titanium abutments via UV photofunctionalization unlock superior crown retention
Rune Shibata1, Jasper Kim1, Jeong Kim2
1Weintraub Center for Reconstructive Biotechnology, UCLA School of Dentistry, Los Angeles, USA.
Purpose:
Evaluation of the impact of ultraviolet (UV) photofunctionalization on titanium-cement interfaces, specifically its ability to transform titanium into a high-energy surface and enhance crown retention.
Methods:
Commercial titanium abutments (standard: 4.0 mm; long: 5.5 mm) were treated with vacuum UV (VUV) light at 172 nm for 1 min. Milled polymethyl methacrylate crowns were cemented using resin-modified glass ionomer cement. Tensile testing quantified the maximum tensile load and interfacial energy. Surface changes were analyzed using contact angle measurements and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Post-failure interfaces were examined via scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX).
Results:
UV-treated standard-length abutments exhibited a 4.1-fold increase in maximum tensile load and 27-fold increase in bonding energy compared with untreated control counterparts. UV-treated long abutments showed a 4.6-fold increase in maximum tensile load and 54-fold increase in bonding energy. UV treatment rendered the titanium surface superhydrophilic and low in carbon, whereas untreated specimens remained carbon-rich and hydrophobic. UV-treated long abutments exhibited 3.1-fold higher energy than UV-treated standard abutments. Notably, long abutments without UV treatment did not outperform standard untreated abutments. SEM and EDX confirmed extensive residual cement on UV-treated abutments, indicating cohesive failure and strong interfacial bonding.
Conclusions:
A 1-min UV photofunctionalization transforms titanium into a superhydrophilic, high-energy surface that significantly enhances cement bonding. This physicochemical surface strategy outperforms geometric modifications alone. As a rapid, non-invasive approach, UV photofunctionalization may establish a new standard for durable implant-supported restorations, reducing prosthetic failure and influencing both material selection and clinical and laboratory workflows.
