The effect of the osteoimmunomodulatory mechanism on implant osseointegration and bone biomaterials induced bone regeneration

With the development of implant dentistry and biomaterials, dental implants have become the first rehabilitative option proposed for the treatment of missing teeth. Most studies about dental implants and biomaterials currently focus on osteogenesis and the osseointegration of the implant, neglecting the importance of the immune response. In recent years, the development of osteoimmunology has been one of the greatest achievements in bone biomaterials; osteoimmunology has revealed the vital role of immune cells in regulating bone dynamics, implying the value of studies on materials with favorable osteoimmunomodulatory properties. This article reviews the integration between bone tissue and implants and summarizes the effects of the immune response during osseointegration and new bone formation to show the importance of regulating the immune response in this process. The effect of macrophages on osteogenesis and osteoclastogenesis is then reviewed due to the high plasticity and multiple roles of macrophages during this process. Accordingly, the interaction between the implants, the immune systems and the skeletal system is explained, showing the potential value of osteoimmunomodulation as a biological principle for developing bone biomaterials and new types of implants.