Investigation on the Osteogenic and Antibacterial Properties of Silicon Nitride-Coated Titanium Dental Implants

The silicon nitride (Si₃N₄) coating exhibits promising potential in oral applications due to its excellent osteogenic and antibacterial properties. However, a comprehensive investigation of Si₃N₄ coatings in the context of dental implants is still lacking, especially regarding their corrosion resistance and in vivo performance. In this study, Si₃N₄ coatings were prepared on a titanium surface using the nonequilibrium magnetron sputtering method. A systematic comparison among the titanium group (Ti), Si₃N₄ coating group (Si₃N₄-Ti), and sandblasted and acid-etched-treated titanium group (SLA-Ti) has been conducted in vitro and in vivo. The results showed that the Si₃N₄-Ti group had the best corrosion resistance and antibacterial properties, which were mainly attributed to the dense structure and chemical activity of Si-O and Si-N bonds on the surface. Furthermore, the Si₃N₄-Ti group exhibited superior cellular responses in vitro and new bone regeneration and osseointegration in vivo, respectively. In this sense, silicon nitride coating shows promising prospects in the field of dental implantology.