title: An in-vitro study of the sterilization of titanium dental implants using low intensity UV-radiation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Commercial titanium dental implants are coated with nanostructured TiO2. The aim of the research reported in this paper was to assess whether the TiO2 at the surface of a dental implant is sufficiently photoactive to eradicate bacteria when illuminated with low intensity light.
  
  
  METHODS
  The photoactivity of dental implants was established by studies of the photoenhanced decomposition of Rhodamine B. In vitro studies to establish the influence of irradiating with UV light an implant that is immersed in a solution containing Escherichia Coli were performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  It was demonstrated that under low UV intensity irradiation, 49 microW cm(-2), bacteria are killed at a rate of approximately 650 million per cm2 of implant per minute.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results indicate that illumination of dental implants with UV light may be a suitable treatment for periimplantitis.
authors.affiliation: Fondazione Elba, Via delle Testuggini, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: D Jason
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Riley
authors.forename: Valter
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Bavastrello
authors.forename: Ugo
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Covani
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Barone
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Nicolini
mesh_terms: D015921:Dental Implants / Q000382:microbiology*; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000528:radiation effects; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D006801:Humans; D008422:Materials Testing; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents / Q000737:chemistry; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D012235:Rhodamines; D013056:Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet; D013242:Sterilization / Q000379:methods*; D014025:Titanium / Q000737:chemistry*; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays
chemical_list: D015921:Dental Implants; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents; D012235:Rhodamines; C009495:titanium dioxide; D014025:Titanium; C029773:rhodamine B