Metalorganic Titanium Treatment to Change Enamel Optical Properties

Observational studies have shown that human teeth with higher concentrations of titanium traces have better optical properties. The aim of this study was to investigate how titanium ion infiltration into tooth enamel affects its optical properties by studying the diffusion and reactivity of titanium compounds in tooth enamel and how this affected enamel optical properties. Tooth enamel specimens were incubated in hydrophobic solutions of titanium isopropoxide. The effect of the treatments on surface composition, topography, enamel hardness, shade, and crystallinity were assessed. Exposing enamel to hydrophobic solvents dissolved part of the acquired enamel pellicle proteins and increased the reactivity of the enamel surface. This allowed the penetration of organic titanium ions deep into dental enamel, which increased the tooth whiteness. The findings of this study will set the basis towards new dental therapies based on titanium modification of enamel tooth structure.