Dental Implant Materials 2019

Dental implant materials are advancing in the fusion of various scientific fields. Surface modification technologies for implants have been applied to titanium at the micro-level for about four decades. Now implant surfaces are being topographically and chemically modified at both the micro- and nano-level. The modification techniques are altering other metals and ceramics making these materials more biocompatible. Materials for abutments in dental implant systems appear to depend on implant-abutment connection structures. Biomechanical factors such as friction and preload influence the development of the abutment materials. Additionally the surfaces of the abutment materials are important in the soft-tissue attachment which is being actively investigated. As dental implants have to be functional in human bodies for a long time numerous materials are being clinically tested as implant-supported restorations. The Special Issue Dental Implant Materials 2019 introduces the creative works of scientists on the current advancements in the field of materials for implant dentistry.