Surface Modification of Dental Implants

The rate of implant failure has been decreasing and today, it is largely theorized to be due to failure in bone formation in support of osseointegration. This could be due to clinician related factors, implant factors, local or anatomic factors, biologic factors, systemic or functional factors. Implant surface character is one design factor affecting the rate and extent of osseointegration. Precisely, how much of the implant surface directly contacts bone, how rapidly osseointegration occurs and the mechanical nature of bone implant connection is influenced by the nature of implant surface itself. Hence, since the advent of dental implants modifications have been proposed to achieve better osseointegration and in turn higher implant success rates. This has led to microtopography, macrotopography and nanotopography of implant surface.