[What is thought of the various surface treatments of biomaterials used in dental and maxillofacial implantology?]. / Que faut-il penser des différents traitements de surface sur les biomatériaux utilisés en implantologie dentaire et maxillo-faciale?

The surface treatments for biomaterials have the following goals: to increase the biocompatibility and the tissue acceptation, to prevent infection to reduce the abrupt interfaces; to favour the biological integration and the long term in service behaviour. Advantages and inconveniences of these methods are analysed for the main biomaterials categories: metals, synthetic polymers, ceramics, materials of biological origin. In addition to appropriate physico-chemical and mechanical properties, the existence of biologically functional interfaces with the living cells is more and more wished. In the next 20 years, it appears likely that the design of prostheses or implants in actual clinical use will have to be totally or partly reconsidered.