UCLA Team Invents UV Treatment to Improve Implant Outcomes

A team of researchers from the University of California School of Dentistry, led by Takahiro Ogawa, DDS, PhD, has developed a groundbreaking technology to enhance dental implant procedures. The decade-long research resulted in a device that applies 1 minute of ultraviolet (UV) light treatment to titanium implants just before surgery. This innovation addresses a longstanding challenge in dental implantology – the presence of a natural layer of hydrocarbons, known as titanium pellicle, on implant surfaces, hindering osseointegration and contributing to post-operative complications such as peri-implantitis. The UV treatment, detailed in the Journal of Functional Biomaterials, effectively removes hydrocarbons in just 1 minute, significantly improving osseointegration. Treated implants exhibit nearly 100% bone integration, double anchoring capability, and a 60% reduction in bacterial susceptibility compared to untreated implants. This breakthrough translates to faster healing, lower complication risks, and increased suitability for diverse patient populations, including older adults, tobacco users, and those with systemic health problems such as diabetes and osteoporosis. Click here to read more.