SMART Strategies in Surface Engineering: A Narrative Review of Technologies and Coatings in Dental Industry

This article provides an overview of modern surface engineering technologies used in the manufacturing of dental components, with a particular focus on dental implants, abutments, and crowns. The main objective of the study is to critically evaluate selected surface treatment and coating deposition methods applied to materials such as titanium, zirconia, hydroxyapatite, and NiTi alloys, and to discuss their relevance in terms of functionality, biocompatibility, and sustainability. The analyzed technologies include anodic oxidation, alkaline oxidation, electrochemical coating deposition, and other surface modification approaches aimed at improving osseointegration, corrosion resistance, and antibacterial performance. This literature review was conducted as a narrative review supported by the PRISMA framework, using the Scopus and Web of Science databases for the period 2016–2025. The findings highlight the increasing importance of surface treatments as a key factor influencing the durability and clinical success of dental implant systems. At the same time, the results indicate that the environmental aspects and energy efficiency of manufacturing and surface treatment processes are still addressed only marginally or qualitatively in the available literature. The identified research gaps include the lack of quantitative data on the energy demand of individual technologies, the absence of standardized indicators for environmental impact assessment, and the limited number of comparative studies evaluating different surface modification techniques in the context of dental manufacturing. Overall, the results emphasize the need for a more systematic sustainability assessment of surface engineering as an integral part of modern dental manufacturing practice.