Introduction to dental implants materials, coatings, and surface modifications

Dental implants are devices that are surgically inserted into the maxillary and/or mandibular alveolar bone restoring lost teeth. Ideally, dental implants should have a direct contact with the bone: a phenomenon known as osseointegration. In order to improve the osseointegration, a variety of modifications in the implant surface have been investigated such as surface treatments and surface coatings. Although, the earliest use of dental implants can be traced back to the ancient civilizations, over the past few decades, there have been numerous advancements in the science of dental implant biomaterials and theier clinical applications. The aim of this book is not only to provide an overview of those advancements but also provide the reader an insight into the probable future of dental implant materials, including various surface treatments and coatings on titanium implants.