Surface Modifications of Commercial Dental Implant Systems: An Overview

The aim of this review was to perform a comprehensive overview of evidence pertaining to the influence of various surface modifications on the surface roughness, bone implant contact, and the success and complication rates of the implants. Modified sandblasted, large-grit, acid-etched (SLA) implants (SLActive implants) have a higher implant stability quotient compared with conventional SLA implants. Also, when compared between the implant surfaces from various manufacturers, Biomet 3i Nanotite implants were shown to have a relatively higher implant stability quotient compared to Straumann implants as well as the Biomet Osseotite implants. Only one study reports the insertion torque values as obtained by the various implant surfaces, with the findings being statistically similar for all the types, and a higher mean value for Biomet 3i Nanotite implants. Among SLA and SLActive surfaces, the latter was found to have a lower marginal bone loss, and among Astratech implants, the marginal bone loss levels were similar for Osseospeed and Tioblast surfaces. When Osseospeed, TiUnite and SLActive surfaces were compared, Osseospeed was found to have the minimum bone loss while TiUnite was found to have the highest. The bone implant contact percentages are similar and satisfactory for most of the implant surface modifications that are available currently. Upon assessing the recent literature on the survival rates for implants with various surface modifications, it was found that among Nobel Biocare implants, the survival rate was higher for TiUnite implants, compared with the turned surfaces. Surprisingly, among the Straumann implant surfaces, the survival rates were found to be higher for the SLA implants when compared to the modified SLA implants. Only one of the included studies evaluated the survival rate for Astratech implant surfaces and found a 100% survival rate for both the Osseospeed and Tioblast surface implants. Therefore, major advancements have been made in developing novel surfaces of dental implants. The numerous innovations set the stage for rehabilitating patients with high success and predictable survival rates even in challenging conditions.