A visible-light photocatalytic TiO ₂ coating for deep decontamination of dental implant components

The components of dental implants, such as abutments and healing screws, are frequently exposed to the oral environment, making them susceptible to microbial contamination and potentially leading to peri-implantitis. Thorough and effective decontamination is crucial for preventing and treating peri-implantitis, but conventional methods cannot remove biofilms organic residues entirely. In our previous study, we developed a distinctive photocatalytic TiO ₂ coating on titanium substrates using plasma electrolytic oxidation. This study systematically evaluates the potential application of this coating on titanium implant components. This coating displayed a smooth surface morphology and was predominantly composed of Ti, O, and C elements. It exhibited excellent biocompatibility towards L929 fibroblast cells. Additionally, this coating displayed visible-light photocatalytic activity and effectively eliminated organic residues of the Porphyromonas gingivalis (P.g.) biofilm when exposed to visible light. After the photocatalytic treatment, the coating's surface hydrophilicity was significantly improved, while its morphology and roughness remained unaltered after mechanical scaling. This coating also exhibited remarkable corrosion resistance in a sodium chloride solution. The results demonstrated that this unique TiO ₂ coating, with visible-light photocatalytic activity, has great potential for application in implant components for deep decontamination.