Cementing innovation: High-energy titanium abutments via UV photofunctionalization unlock superior crown retention.

Authors

Rune Shibata, Jasper Kim, Jeong Kim, Nicholas Her, Keiji Komatsu, Takanori Matsuura, Akiko Yoneda, Justin Choi, Denny Chao, Takahiro Ogawa

Published in

Journal of prosthodontic research. Sep 26, 2025. Epub Sep 26, 2025.

Abstract

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.
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).
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.
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.

PMID:
41016772
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 29 Sep 2025.

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