The "barrier-erecting" of titanium dental implant: Surface modification strategies for enhancing soft tissue integration.

Abstract

Due to the persistently high prevalence of tooth loss, the demand for dental titanium implants is steadily increasing. Soft tissue integration around the implant serves as a critical biological barrier against external factors, which is essential for long-term implant success. However, due to differences in physiological structure, soft tissue integration around the implant is generally weaker than that around a natural tooth, rendering it more susceptible to damage, which can lead to inflammation and subsequent implant failure. In recent few years, various titanium surface modification methods have been explored to enhance soft tissue integration, thereby improving long-term implant success rates. This review systematically summarizes recent approaches for promoting soft tissue integration and generalizes them into three major strategies: antibacterial strategy, tissue growth-prompting strategy and immunoregulatory strategy. For each strategy, the theoretical foundations and the specific methods currently employed are detailed. Additionally, it touches upon the existing challenges and future development prospects.