Calcium phosphate coatings for dental implants. Current status and future potential.

The initial experience with high-quality HA coatings has been positive. The application of HA coatings to metallic substrate implants represents the first time that the body can be directed as to where, and to some extent how, it should respond to their implantation, representing a truly incremental increase from metals material technology and an interim step towards more tailorable, biologically active systems. It remains clear at this writing that all HA-coatings are not created equal and it remains an environment of "buyer beware." There is cause for optimism as new advances in the three essential criteria will only improve the current success rate. These advances and increases in efficacy will, as always, be pioneered in the dental and oral surgical disciplines.