Coatings for dental applications

Abstract

Dental implants have become a reliable treatment option in oral rehabilitation of partially or fully edentulous patients to secure various kinds of prostheses. Established standard procedures exist for tooth replacement in various zones with varying degrees of success and challenges. Overall, the long-term success of dental implants largely depends on their surface characteristics and osseointegration. Although, the success rate of dental implants is high in comparison to orthopedic implants, insufficient integration, local tissue inflammation, and infection are still persistent issues. Accordingly, various types of biomaterial coatings using a range of techniques are commonly used to improve the overall performance of dental implants and to overcome some of the persistent issues. The function of the implant coated material includes enhancing the cellular changes which in turn accelerate the healing process through improved osseointegration and antibacterial properties. Consequently, coatings for dental applications are gaining significant attention and interest among researchers across the globe. This article, therefore, aims to introduce coating materials and associated techniques used in the context of dental application for improved biocompatibility and biofunctionality.