Surface Modifications of Dental Implants

The most important pre-requisite for the long term success of a dental implant prosthesis is Osseointegration. The various phases of dental implant therapy should strive to achieve maximize degree of osseointegration between the implant surface and jaw bone which in turn will maximize the successful treatment outcome. A successful peri-implant bone healing lead to osseointegration which in turn is greatly influenced by surface properties of the dental implant. Many approaches have been employed to improve bone-implant interface with the aim of quickly establishing and firmly maintaining osseointegration. Implant surface topography, surface chemistry and surface free energy have been the target area of such approaches.The various commercially available surface modified implants have greatly improved the success rate of implants in compromised state such as poor bone quality and quantity, old age patients, smokers and have also lead to high success rate in immediate and early loading conditions.