Current perspectives: Calcium phosphate nanocoatings and nanocomposite coatings in dentistry

The purpose of coatings on implants is to achieve some or all of the improvements in biocompatibility, bioactivity, and increased protection from the release of harmful or unnecessary metal ions. During the last decade, there has been substantially increased interest in nanomaterials in biomedical science and dentistry. Nanocomposites can be described as a combination of two or more nanomaterials. By this approach, it is possible to manipulate mechanical properties, such as strength and modulus of the composites, to become closer to those of natural bone. This is feasible with the help of secondary substitution phases. Currently, the most common composite materials used for clinical applications are those selected from a handful of available and well-characterized biocompatible ceramics and natural and synthetic polymers. This approach is currently being explored in the development of a new generation of nanocomposite coatings with a wider range of oral and dental applications to promote osseointegration. The aim of this review is to give a brief introduction into the new advances in calcium phosphate nanocoatings and their composites, with a range of materials such as bioglass, carbon nanotubes, silica, ceramic oxide, and other nanoparticles being investigated or used in dentistry.