Antimicrobial Coatings in Dental Implants: Fid-Bau Portal

Antimicrobial Coatings in Dental Implants

Past and Present Approaches

Agrawal, Diksha / Minhas, Anu P.

Due to the exceptional physiochemical, mechanical, biocompatibility, availability, and stability properties, metals, metal alloys, and composites are common materials for dental implants. Regardless of the material used, implants are prone to infections, ranging from mild to severe, leading to implant loosening, chronic pain, reduced functionality, and sometimes even death when not properly managed. With the growing problem of multidrug resistance, surface modification or coating of these implants, known as antimicrobial coating (AMC), is suggested as a remedial measure to prevent such infections. This chapter highlights past and present advancements in AMCs for dental implants. Specifically, it explores the biocompatibility, cytotoxicity, and osteointegration behavior of metal ions, nanoparticles, nanocomposites, and polymers when incorporated into synthetic dental implants. Notable examples of polymer coatings included N ‐halamine polymers, poly(sebacic anhydride) combined with antibiotics, polymeric chlorhexidine, polyetheretherketone, and chitosan. Among nanomaterials and nanocomposites, a long list of materials has been explored for their potential as AMC, of which zinc/graphene oxide nanocomposites, homogeneous dopamine–Ag nanocomposites, graphene/zinc oxide nanocomposites, and carbon quantum dots are to name a few. Copper, cerium oxide, niobium pentoxide, zinc–magnesium, and molybdenum diselenide were the metal ions explored for their potential use in dental implant applications.

Moreover, specific antimicrobial peptides like GL13K and laterosporulins, and other substances such as curcumin, xanthohumol, and totarol were also included as potential coatings. Despite notable progress in the generation of diverse AMCs, the majority of research has been limited to in vitro implant model studies and specific microbial strains. Thus far, only a restricted number of in vivo investigations and clinical trials have been conducted, which highlights the need for further research in this area to attract significant attention.