# Ultrafast Lasers for Surface Texturing: Transforming the Future of Dental Biomaterials

## TL;DR

This paper reviews how ultrafast lasers can modify dental biomaterials to improve their performance by altering surface features.

## Contribution

The paper provides a comprehensive review of laser surface texturing techniques and their impact on dental biomaterials.

## Key findings

- Laser surface modification enhances osseointegration and antimicrobial properties of dental materials.
- Ultrafast lasers offer precise control over surface features with high reproducibility.
- Laser parameters significantly influence material surface properties and overall performance.

## Abstract

The advancements in laser technology have enabled its
widespread
application in the materials science, manufacturing, and healthcare
industries. Among these, laser-assisted surface modification of biomedical
materials is currently one of the most widely investigated research
areas owing to the multiple advantages of laser-based techniques over
conventional methods. When a laser beam of adequate energy is irradiated
onto a substrate, it induces ablation through melting, evaporation,
and resolidification, resulting in micro/nanolevel surface features.
Such laser-assisted surface treatment, a noncontact method, offers
significant control over process parameters, enabling high reproducibility
of surface features. Pulsed lasers, more particularly those with nanosecond,
picosecond, and femtosecond pulse durations, are extensively used
for surface modification of dental biomaterials due to their precision
and effectiveness. The applications of laser-based surface texturing
span from enhancing osseointegration and antimicrobial properties
to improving tribological properties such as reduced friction, wear,
and corrosion resistance. Among these, most of the research focused
on the effect of laser patterning on improving the surface characteristics
of biomaterials. Achieving surfaces with optimum characteristics requires
an intricate understanding of laser-matter interaction mechanisms,
material properties, and the effect of laser patterning parameters
on the material surface. In this regard, there is considerable scope
for exploring the suitability of lasers as a potential tool for surface
modification of biomaterials. In addition, in-depth research is anticipated
to advance the efficiency of dental biomaterials. This review aims
to dive deep into the principles of controlled laser ablation, the
effects of various laser parameters on material surface properties,
and the role of material surface properties, on the overall performance
of dental biomaterials. While laser patterning is used to alter the
surface characteristics for a variety of applications, the current
review focuses primarily on laser surface modification to achieve
superior osseointegration and reduce microbial adhesion.