Influence of ultraviolet photofunctionalization on the surface characteristics of zirconia-based dental implant materials

• Published in: Dental materials Vol. 31; no. 2; pp. e14 - e24
• Main Authors: Tuna, Taskin, Wein, Martin, Swain, Michael, Fischer, Jens, Att, Wael
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.02.2015
• Subjects: Advanced Basic Science; Atomic force microscopy; Contact angle; Crystal structure; Dental implant; Dental Implants; Dental materials; Dental Materials - chemistry; Dentistry; Droplets; Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions; Materials Testing; Mechanical Phenomena; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; Photoelectron Spectroscopy; Photofunctionalization; Physical property; Scanning electron microscopy; Surface characteristics; Surface chemistry; Surface Properties; Ultraviolet; Ultraviolet Rays; X-Ray Diffraction; Zirconia; Zirconium - chemistry; Zirconium dioxide; Zirconia; Physical property; Surface characteristics; Surface chemistry; Ultraviolet; Dental implant; Photofunctionalization
• ISSN: 0109-5641; 1879-0097
• DOI: 10.1016/j.dental.2014.10.008

Abstract Objectives To examine the effect of ultraviolet light (UV) treatment on the surface characteristics of two acid-etched zirconia-based dental implant materials. Methods Discs of two zirconia-based materials (Zr1 and Zr2) with smooth (m) and roughened (r) surfaces were treated by UV light for 15 min. The surface topography was investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The surface elemental composition of all samples was determined by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), the crystalline property by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and the hydrophilic status by contact angle (CA) measurements of a water droplet. Results SEM and AFM revealed quantitative and qualitative differences between the roughened and smooth surfaces. UV treatment did not induce any topographic changes of the tested surfaces ( p > 0.05). All UV-treated samples showed a significant surface elemental content change with a decrease of carbon by 43–81%, an increase of oxygen by 19–45%, and an increase of zirconia by 9–41%. Upon UV treatment, a 19–25% increase of the crystalline monoclinic phase was observed on surfaces of material Zr1, whereas a slight increase on the smooth Zr2 surface (+3%) and a decrease on the roughened Zr2 surface by 20% was observed. For all samples, the hydrophilic status changed significantly from hydrophobic to hydrophilic by UV treatment ( p < 0.0001). The average contact angles were between 56.4° and 69° before and 2.5° and 14.1° after UV-light treatment. Significance UV treatment altered the physicochemical properties of the two zirconia implant surfaces investigated. The mechanism by which such changes are induced requires further investigation.