The Effect of Gold Nanoparticle-Coated Dental Implants on Osseointegration - A Systematic Review

Dental implants are used in dentistry to replace teeth, restore function and improve the quality of life for patients. Osseointegration is critical for the success of dental implants. Implant surface modification can enhance osseointegration. Gold nanoparticles have emerged as a promising coating material for dental implants owing to their unique physicochemical properties. We aimed to review published literature to assess the effect of gold nanoparticle coating in increasing osseointegration of dental implants.

A database search yielded a total of 14 articles between January 2011 till December 2021, of which nine articles were excluded and five studies met the inclusion criteria. All studies reported improved osseointegration outcomes with gold nanoparticle coating compared to uncoated controls.

The most reported osseointegration outcomes were bone-implant contact, removal torque (RTQ) and histological analysis of bone formation around the implant. Mean RTQ values for coated implants ranged from 6.7 to 52.8 Ncm, compared to 3.7-40.8 Ncm for uncoated controls. The histological analysis showed greater bone formation and density around the coated implants compared to uncoated implants. Gold nanoparticle coating appears to have a positive effect on osseointegration. The results of included studies suggest that gold nanoparticle-coated implants promote greater bone-implant contact (BIC), RTQ and bone formation around the coated implant than the uncoated implant.

With increasing usage of dental implants, the most prevailing concern among clinicians remains to be peri-implantitis. Peri-implantitis is observed despite the biocompatibility and osseointegration properties of titanium. Surface coatings with antimicrobial effectiveness can help in preventing the onset of peri-implantitis and bone loss, while increasing BIC.