Application prospect of silicon nitride ceramics in dental implants

Silicon nitride has high fracture toughness and compressive strength similar to human bone. It meets the basic mechanical requirements of implants and has good biocompatibility. The micrometer/nanometer morphology surface characteristics of silicon nitride give it good osteogenic activity and antibacterial properties, which are helpful to reduce the incidence of periimplant inflammation. Therefore, silicon nitride has good application potential in dental implants. In orthopedics, silicon nitride implants have been used in spine repair and joint implantation. However, there is a lack of research on silicon nitride as dental implant material. The evaluation of the osteogenic and antibacterial properties of silicon nitride bioceramics prepared using different sintering additives and sintering processes, the antibacterial properties of silicon nitride on different dominant oral pathogens, and the osteogenic activity and antibacterial properties of silicon nitride materials implanted into the jaw need to be further studied. Combined with the latest research results at home and abroad, this review discusses the application potential of silicon nitride materials in dentistry.