Challenges of Soft Tissue Integration Around Dental Implants and Strategies Based on Material Surface Modification

Abstract The stability and long‐term survival of dental implants depend not only on osseointegration, but also on complete and rigid soft tissue integration (STI) in the transgingival area. Excellent STI prevents the peri‐implant hard and soft tissues from being disturbed by bacteria and other external stimuli. However, peri‐implant STI is weaker and more susceptible to damage than natural teeth, which may increase the incidence of peri‐implant disease. The surface properties of materials in the gingival region of dental implants play a crucial role in modulating the biological response of the surrounding soft tissues. Therefore, different surface modifications have been made to enhance peri‐implant STI. This review provides an in‐depth analysis of the challenges of STI around dental implants, comprehensively reviews the effects of different implant/abutment modification strategies, including materials, surface characteristics, coatings, summarizes the availability and limitations of the current research, suggests possible future directions to provide feasible ideas for exploring the most optimal implant/abutment design to increase STI, and provides a reference for the clinical translation of the surface modifications to dental implants.