Materials used currently in dental implantology include pure titanium and titanium alloy namely- along with polymers and ceramics. Owing to their excellent mechanical properties such as lower modulus of elasticity, better fatigue strength, and higher corrosion resistance, they are more preferred for replacing a missing tooth in patients. The surface of dental implant plays a crucial role in determining the success for osseointegration with the human cells. Broadly classified, a successful implantation is the outcome of correlation between three factors, namely: osseointegration, fatigue endurance, and longevity of the implants subjected to masticatory forces offered by humans. The main objective of this review is to comprehensively understand the causes of fatigue and analyse through a mechanical aspect. The central theme of this article is the surface properties of a dental implant. A sequential breakdown of parameters such as dimensions of the implant, surface roughness, and surface coating thickness along with the advantages and disadvantages of surface treatment and surface coating methods on the fatigue life performance of implants have been presented. The experimental validity of all attributes mentioned in most of the literature have confirmed that fatigue failure is the most common mode of failure occurring in dental implants. Hence it becomes imperative to research the causes in depth and aim at controlling the factors to enhance the fatigue life of dental implants. This review gave an outline of the different attributes which affect fatigue failure in dental implants when subjected to masticatory forces. © 2020 Elsevier Ltd.