The evolution of the "osseointegration" concept and a review of the features of modern dental implants affecting osseointegration

Abstract

This review presents the evolution of the "osseointegration" concept. Previously, the phenomenon of osseointegration was understood as "direct contact between the implant and the bone". Currently, the roles of the cellular microenvironment and the immune response to a foreign body are highlighted, and thus, the concept of "osseointegration" evolves to "a mechanism for protecting tissues against the installed implant". During this process, the bone regeneration at the implant surface is a protective mechanism of the body against the previously considered bioinert material of the implant.

It has been established that the properties of the implant surface are one of the important factors in achieving and maintaining the osseointegration. The properties of the implant surface can be divided into topographic, chemical, mechanical, and physical. Some of these factors interact with each other and cannot be easily assessed in isolation. For example, if the surface topography changes, then the chemistry and physics of the surface will most likely also change. A review is provided of chemical and physical properties (crystal structure and hydrophilicity) and mechanical features of dental implants that affect the quality and rate of their osseointegration.