Biological effects, applications and strategies of nanomodification of dental metal surfaces

Abstract Metals and their alloys have been applied widely in the field of stomatology due to their good properties. However, as the oral environment and oral therapeutic schemes are complex, most dental metals have the problems of low biocompatibility and insufficient efficacy. With the development of nanotechnology, nanomodification has provided new opportunities for the surface modification of dental metals. Materials with nanoscale morphology and nanocoatings endow dental metal surfaces with nanoproperties that stimulate and guide various biological processes, providing potential solutions to clinical problems. This review characterizes current applications of nanotechnology for dental metal surface modification, with discussion of the resulting materials’ biocompatibility, interactions with cells and antibacterial activity. We also summarize the available information on the main preparation programs and key parameters of surface nanomodification, with discussion of the special advantages and difficulties associated with the nanomodification of metals employed in the oral cavity. We provide suggestions and references for improvement of the surface performance of dental metals and facilitation of their broad application.