Biocomposites: Advances in Research and Applications Chapter 6. Dental Bioceramics: From Lab to Clinical Practice

Abstract

Functional ceramics known as bioceramics have gained significant interest in the field of regenerative medicine. They have been widely used as bone reconstructive materials in orthopedics, oral and maxillofacial surgery. One of the most commonly used materials in clinical applications are those based on calcium phosphate (Ca3(PO4)2) and calcium silicate (Ca2SiO4), which have been available on the market for several decades. Currently, there are ongoing works to develop bioceramics for various clinical applications in regenerative medicine, including dentistry. Bioceramics have shown promise in periodontal treatment, prevention of relapse, nerve regeneration, drug delivery technology, and even in esthetic medicine and cosmetics. For restorations in the anterior of the mouth, glass ceramics are an alternative approach to provide both esthetics and strength, while (Al2O3) alumina and (ZrO2) zirconia-based structural ceramics are utilized as crown cores and bridge frameworks. However, they require the application of an esthetic veneering ceramic for clinical use in tooth structure replacement. This chapter discusses the advantages of dental bioceramics, their compositions, biological evolutions, and how their physical properties relate to clinical findings. The future perspective and challenges in using bioceramics for next-generation regenerative therapy are also discussed.