Antimicrobial Materials Used in Coating Dental Implant Surfaces: State of Art and Future Prospectives

This review presents a comprehensive overview of dental materials that support tissue healing while exhibiting antimicrobial properties. Emphasis is placed on materials that are biocompatible, bioactive, and non-toxic to host cells, with demonstrated bacteriostatic and bactericidal activity. The review summarizes current research on natural bactericides, antimicrobial polymers, and bioactive glass/polymer composites, along with various techniques employed for surface coating of dental implants. Three principal categories of antimicrobial coatings have been identified: antibacterial phytochemicals, synthetic antimicrobial agents (including polymers and antibiotics), and metallic nanoparticles. Among these, antibacterial peptide-based coatings have been the most extensively studied and have shown the greatest effectiveness in reducing bacterial colonization, especially during extended incubation periods. These coatings offer high antimicrobial potency, durability, and excellent biocompatibility, positioning them as promising candidates for long-term protection against microbial contamination. However, additional in vitro and pre-clinical studies are warranted to thoroughly evaluate their therapeutic potential and to establish their efficacy and safety for clinical applications in the prevention of peri-implant infections.