A method of depositing a relatively thin film of bioinert material onto a surgical implant substrate, such as a dental implant. Chemical vapor deposition (CVD) may be used to deposit a layer of tantalum and/or other biocompatible materials onto a solid substrate comprised of an implantable titanium alloy, forming a biofilm-resistant textured surface on the substrate while preserving the material properties and characteristics of the substrate, such as fatigue strength.
