Hydrophilic versus hydrophobic implant coatings: A comparative osseointegration study

Achieving rapid and stable osseointegration remains a persistent challenge in dental implantology, particularly with variations in implant surface properties. Therefore, it is of interest to compare the effects of hydrophilic and hydrophobic implant surface coatings on osseointegration using clinical and radiographic parameters. Hence, a prospective comparative design involving 100 patients showed that hydrophilic implants yielded significantly higher implant stability (ISQ values) and reduced peri-implant bone loss over a 6-month follow-up period. Improved peri-implant soft tissue health, evidenced by reduced probing depth and bleeding on probing, was also observed in the hydrophilic group. Thus, we report hydrophilic surface modification as a superior strategy for enhancing early osseointegration and improving overall implant prognosis.